Canon Wins Favorable Ruling

Canon has won a favorable ruling in its ongoing lawsuit against Color Imaging and General Plastic Industrial Co. (GPI) regarding a patent used in toner containers. Color Imaging and GPI were charged with both direct and indirect infringement. The defendants attempted to dismiss Canon’s claims in a summary judgment plea, but a district court judge rejected the defendants’ request.

In accordance with the judge, Canon’s complaint was pleaded adequately because it “expressly identifies ‘end users’ as direct infringers.” The judge added, “Moreover, the amended complaint alleges the requisite intent and knowledge for induced infringement. Besides, the court concludes that the amended complaint clarifies all of the elements for contributory infringement.”

Judge Vining gave Canon two weeks to file an amended complaint. No amended complaint has been submitted yet, so it seems Canon may allow its first amended complaint to suffice.

According to Actionable Intelligence, “Canon claimed that Color Imaging, UniNet Imaging, and UI Supplies (the latter a UniNet subsidiary and distributor) infringed U.S. patent number 7,647,012 dated January 12, 2010. The accused products were Color Imaging’s and UniNet’s versions of toner containers used in various monochrome and color imageRUNNER and imageRUNNER ADVANCE copiers and multi-function printers (MFPs).”