“Clean Show” Verdict Given in Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain 15 January 2015… Printer OEMS, including Hewlett-Packard (HP) have informed organizers of the RT Imaging Summit & Expo their newly launched show focusing on imaging supplies in Europe did not display, offer or contain infringing printing consumables.

Local Spanish authorities joined HP and legal counsel to inspect the show containing 40 exhibitors from Europe, UK, Turkey and China. They told organizers they did not find actual samples on display.

More than one hundred people attended the first day summit dealing with patent issues, legal updates and new technologies relating to printer cartridge smart chips, OPC drums and gears and toner.  Hundreds more visited the Expo when it opened later the same day, with Europeans looking for non-infringing print consumables solutions for their businesses.

RT Media has worked hard to deliver an event that excluded infringing print consumables.  This includes remanufactured products as well as new built components and finished products.  While some companies involved at the show do make new cartridges that potentially infringe OEM patents in regions like Europe, it was made very clear that there would be a zero tolerance towards such products being displayed, promoted or sold through the European expo.

Patent issues and legal updates relating to markets in both Europe and North America was a hot issue on the first day.  Patent attorneys Ed OConnor and Dr Katja Dauster explained the intricacies of first sale legal rights as well as the differences between refurbishing and rebuilding spent cartridges. Badger Office Supplies owner Dennis Haines updated attendees on his battle with Canon over the sale of his remanufactured cartridges which allegedly infringed the OEM’s patents.

“We are very pleased with this inaugural event and will continue to deliver a dedicated, non-infringing event for the print consumables industry in Europe in 2016.  We will continue to educate our exhibitors and visitors about respecting all intellectual property owned by others,” RT Media’s Managing Director Tony Lee explained.

The event was attended by a broad spectrum of the imaging industry, including remanufacturers, component suppliers, finished product manufacturers, patent holders—both OEM and aftermarket), MPS suppliers, OEMs (HP, Brother and Samsung), attorneys, empty cartridge collectors, importers and wholesalers of consumables and industry analysts and researchers.

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