Bloggers Discuss the Canon GEO

The recent Canon general exclusion order (GEO) set by the International Trade Commission (ITC) in the USA, has created a lot of discussion on social media sites, such as LinkedIn.  (Read More)

Many printer cartridge remanufacturers are welcoming the GEO. They want to reclaim the market from the Chinese “cloned” products. Tom Bersch, Senior Business Development Executive at Veteran Toner Services LLC says, “This is great news for our company. Soon no more China Clones.”  Print-Rite North America’s Jake Ducey blogged, “we are excited about the leveling of the playing field.”

However, it could take time before the stocks of infringing products run dry. Some say it will take less than 6 months. Others believe it could take longer to see stockpiles dwindle. Charles Brewer of Actionable Intelligence says “there’s a lot of clones out there … I just checked on eBay and found plenty of HP 36As clones selling as low as $10/pc. … And there are thousands of ’em.”

Some online comments refer to the risky nature of the aftermarket. Toner Sales Manager Jonathan Shu blogged, “Regarding OEMs serving lawsuits, anyone can sue anyone these days, and being associated to an aftermarket manufacturer is risky enough.” Some bloggers claimed to have confidential indemnification from their suppliers who have their patented printer drum solutions—the subject of the Canon GEO.

The huge profits made by Canon and HP also sparked discussion. The president of 5Star Toners, Andrey Luchak, says “they will be making billions of extra dollars after this exclusion [and they have] already enjoyed profits from [the] patented products for 17 years.” Luchak also wants to know why are the US authorities “backing a Japanese company making profits in the US?”

Recycling Times Director, David Gibbons does not think the GEO will stop the Chinese imports. In his view, “It is in the very nature of Chinese culture and thinking to look for new ways to do things—work around solutions. They will not just throw up their hands, admit defeat and walk away from the all important US market.”

Andrey Luchak agrees. He thinks OEM prices are “the biggest rip off ever.” Others agree the Chinese manufacturers will find a way to create remanufactured products that will not violate the OEM patents “and to be honest, I will happy if they do. The sooner, the better actually.”