Epson Accuses 20 Companies of Cartridge Patent Infringement

Epson Accuses 20 Companies of Cartridge Patent Infringement

Epson, along with its U.S. subsidiaries Epson America, Inc. and Epson Portland Inc., has filed two Section 337 complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), accusing 20 companies of infringing on multiple patents related to its ink cartridge products.

The cases, temporarily designated as Investigation Nos. 337-TA-3827 and 337-TA-3828, mark Epson’s return to the ITC over printer consumables for the first time in a decade, following its earlier actions in 2006 and 2014. Epson is requesting that the ITC issue either a General Exclusion Order (GEO), a Limited Exclusion Order, and/or Cease and Desist Orders to bar the importation and sale of the allegedly infringing products in the U.S.

The 20 respondents named in the complaints are identical across both cases. Based on publicly available address data, 18 of the companies are based in mainland China or Hong Kong, with only two located in the United States. Notably, some of the accused companies had previously been subject to U.S. Customs enforcement for violating a GEO issued in the 337-TA-946 case.

A total of 10 U.S. patents are cited in the two new complaints. These patents primarily relate to the electrical contact technology used in ink cartridge chips. Each patent covers key technical elements found in ink cartridges and their electronic components.

An initial review of the respondents suggests they are mainly small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including various e-commerce sellers. This aligns with a growing trend since the 337-TA-1174 case, in which OEMs have increasingly targeted smaller players, who often lack the financial resources to mount a strong legal defense.

Experts warn that many SMEs are likely to default in the proceedings, which increases the likelihood that the ITC could quickly issue a GEO. Such an order would bar all infringing products—regardless of manufacturer—from entering the U.S., potentially dealing a significant blow to the aftermarket printer supplies industry.

Given the potential impact on the global ink cartridge market, analysts urge affected companies and the broader industry to take the complaints seriously and prepare a coordinated legal and regulatory response. Failure to do so could result in significant disruptions to the supply chain and reduced competition in the U.S. market.

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