First Company Violates 337-TA-918 GEO

Only after three months since the 337-TA-918 General Exclusion Order (GEO) was issued by U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on August 31, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (U.S. Customs) seized toner cartridges and component products covered by the GEO.

It is noted that this seizure acted by the U.S. Customs is much faster than before, which means the U.S. Customs is more proactive to enforce the GEOs.

On December 1, USITC issued a first 337-TA-918 seizure and forfeiture order against a Washington-based company named Amazon.com Inc., which has attempted to import the aforesaid products into the U.S. According to the copied order documents sent to RT Media, toner cartridges and components that are imported by Amazon.com Inc., which violates the 337-TA-918 GEO, will be seized and forfeited.

Shortly, on December 18, Smart and Easy Corp., which based in California State, confronting another seizure and forfeiture order for violating the same GEO. Its toner cartridge products have been seized by the U.S. Customs and any attempts to import related products into the U.S. will not be allowed.

In May 2014, Canon filed a complaint before the USITC against 34 manufacturers, distributors and sellers of toner cartridges for infringement of its nine U.S. patents (Nos. 8,135,304; 8,280,278; 8,369,744; 8,565,640; 8,630,564; 8,676,085; 8,676,090; 8,682,215; and 8,688,008). In June 2015, the Administrative Law Judge of USITC recommended a general exclusion order, as well as cease and desist orders to the nine domestic Defaulting Respondents, and that a 100 percent bond be established for importation during the Presidential review period. Later the USITC officially granted a GEO on the 337-TA-918 investigation on August 31, 2015.

For more patent information, please visit Patent-Smart.com.

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