Two Companies Denied Ink Imports

Florida-based David & Yonathan Trade and British Columbia Canada-based Katech Imaging, have both been issued separate seizure and forfeiture orders following their respective attempts to import certain ink cartridges and components into the United States that violate a standing General Exclusion Order (GEO).

According to documents submitted to RT Media, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (“Customs”) has denied the entry of the products intended for two above companies because they infringe the 337-TA-565 GEO. In response to the Customs’ report, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) approved and issued the seizure and forfeiture orders against the companies.

The USITC instituted the 337-TA-565 investigation on March 23, 2006, based on a complaint filed by Epson Portland, Inc. of Oregon; Epson America, Inc. of California; and Seiko Epson Corporation of Japan (collectively “Epson”), alleging 24 companies located in China, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, and the United States violated 7 of its U.S. Patent No. 5,615,957; claims 18, 81, 93, 149, 164 and 165 of U.S. Patent No. 5,622,439; claims 83 and 84 of U.S. Patent No. 5,158,377; claims 19 and 20 of U.S. Patent No. 5,221,148; claims 29, 31, 34 and 38 of U.S. Patent No. 5,156,472; claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 5,488,401; claims 1-3 and 9 of U.S. Patent No. 6,502,917; claims 1, 31 and 34 of U.S. Patent No. 6,550,902; claims 1, 10 and 14 of U.S. Patent No. 6,955,422; claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 7,008,053; and claims 21, 45, 53 and 54 of U.S. Patent No. 7,011,397.

The USITC issued the general exclusion order on October 19, 2007.