In December 2018, Epson filed a Complaint for Patent Infringement and Damages in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Palm Beach Division.
In legal documents viewed by The Recycler, it is revealed that Plaintiffs Seiko Epson Corporation, Epson America, Inc. and Epson Portland Inc. are suing Florida-based companies STS Refill Technology, LLC, STS Group Holding, Inc., STS Designer Inks LLC and 8300 Congress LLC for alleged patent infringement.
Epson is claiming infringement of its US Patent No. 8,794,749, also known as the ‘749 patent, and describes the infringing products as “aftermarket ink cartridges for use with Epson printers.”
The ‘749 patent is part of a general exclusion order issued by the USITC prohibiting the importation into the United States of such infringing items.
Epson describes the defendants in this case as “wilful infringers” and violators of the exclusion order, and says it is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction, as well as damages “and other relief”.
The legal documents go on to explain in more detail that, according to “information and belief”, the defendants “import, offer for sale, and sell ink cartridges that infringe the ‘749 patent complained of herein, including through Defendants’ www.stsinks.com and www.stsrefill.com websites”.
Epson is requesting a jury trial in this case.
