HP File Important Import Claim

HP has filed a claim against 11 companies located both here in the U.S. and in Asia, according to Bloomberg.com. They are trying to bar the import of certain ink cartridges because they appear to infringe on patented HP technologies. On Friday, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) agreed to investigate the complaint lodged in September of this year. The agency, however, is quick to point out that just because they have agreed to investigate, does not mean that they have decided that the claims have merit. The agency’s mission is to protect U.S. markets from unfair trades and does have the power to ban imports that violate U.S. patents.

HP says that the 11 companies have violated their patent rights “through unlicensed imports, sales for importation and sales.” Patent infringement lawsuits have been formally made against Ninestar Technology Co. from China, InkTec Co. from South Korea, and Acer Inc from Taipei.

The three aforementioned companies are not under investigation by the USITC at the present time. Among the 11 companies the USITC is focusing on now are Hong Kong-based Mipo International Ltd., China-based Zhuhai Gree Magneto-Electric Co., and three companies from various cities in California. The California companies are InkPlusToner.com located in Canoga Park, SmartOne Services LLC located in Hayward and Comptree Ink located in the City of Industry.

For more details, the case is referred to now as “In the Matter of Certain Inkjet Supplies and Components Thereof” by the USITC, case number 337-691.