The Argentine Federal Courts has confirmed Seiko Epson’s abandonment of its patents and ordered Epson to pay GTC’s costs.
In the long running patent dispute between Seiko Epson and Argentinian based GTC a Federal Judge confirmed the abandonment by the Japanese company of its patent and its withdrawal of infringement claims against the Argentine company GTC. The Judge also ordered Seiko Epson to pay GTC’s attorneys fees, court costs including experts’ fees.
The lawsuit relates to validity of patents connected to Epson Seiko printer cartridges that were very popular in the Argentine market. Seiko Epson had accused GTC of infringing several of its patents and had then blocked the GTC sales in Argentina for several years.
In November, The Recycler reported that Seiko Epson lost a patent lawsuit in Argentina and quit patent claims on several of its printer cartridges. Based on this decision, GTC would move on to sue Epson Seiko for damages.
There remains other pending litigation involving Seiko Epson in the federal Argentine courts, where Seiko Epson has also withdrawn its claims and requested not be sanctioned by the court as in the previous case.
The Recycler understands that the Federal Trade Ministry is still to decide on the final settlement of the Seiko Epson patent conflict after the Japanese company requested the abandonment of its patents with the Argentine Patent Office.
