Last week, The Recycler reported the filing of Canon’s new toner-cartridge-related patent infringement lawsuits against Print-Rite in the U.S., the OEM has now announced it filed a lawsuit in Germany at the same time.
Canon Inc. announced the filing of complaints in the U.S. and Germany against Print-Rite Unicorn Image Products Co., Ltd., Union Technology International (MCO) Co. Ltd., Print-Rite Imaging Technology Inc., and Unideatec S.a.s. for infringement of Canon’s U.S. and European patents.
Specifically, Canon filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against Print-Rite Imaging Technology Inc. and Union Technology International (MCO) Co. Ltd. for infringement of Canon’s U.S. Patent No. 11,169,483.
On the same day, Canon filed a complaint with the District Court of Düsseldorf in Germany against Print-Rite Unicorn Image Products Co., Ltd. of Zhuhai, Union Technology International (MCO) Co., Ltd., and Unideatec S.a.s. for use of the German portion of Canon’s European Patent No. 3 470 931 B1.
As set forth in the respective complaints, Print-Rite sells HP-compatible toner cartridges that Canon believes infringe its aforementioned patents. The U.S. and German complaints demonstrate how Print-Rite’s CF248A and CF244A cartridges, for example, infringe certain claims of these patents. Print-Rite offers and sells the infringing toner cartridges online, including through Print-Rite websites such as union-tec.com, printriteimaging.com and/or pr-europa.com.
Among other relief, Canon is seeking injunctions in both proceedings as well as damages in the U.S. and a declaratory judgement on damages in Germany.
