OEMs issue several seizure orders
May 29, 2018
HP Inc and Canon have continued their IP battles, with the latest development seeing a slew of seizure and forfeiture orders issued by the USITC.
The first order was handed out on 2 May 2018 by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) to NuTone in relation to a general exclusion order issued in August 2015 in Certain Toner Cartridges Thereof. No 337-TA-918 on behalf of Canon.
NuTone is an office imaging supplies business, who made headlines last year with their acquisition of supplies and parts distributor Densi; they have also recently signed an exclusive distribution agreement with CET Group.
On the 23rd May 2018, the USITC issued a seizure and forfeit order against E-Z Ink Inc., of Brooklyn, New York, and on 3 May 2018 against Graham Battersby, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, on behalf of HP Inc. who were granted the general exclusion order, INV-No.337-TA-691 in January 2011.
Both seizure and forfeiture orders were issued with the orders, having been found to be importing inkjet cartridges and components contrary to a previously-declared exclusion order.
E-Z Ink, meanwhile, has been subject to previous legal action from Canon, too, with a patent infringement lawsuit filed earlier this year as part of an onslaught by the OEM to protect its IP rights.
US Customs Police discovered the imports, which led to the USITC issuing the orders, in a letter to Secretary of the US Treasury, Steven Mnuchin.
Categories : World Focus
Tags : Canon E-Z Ink HP IP Legal North America Nu-Tone Seizure Order
