Multi Union Trading Company Ltd. has reached an agreement with the Seiko Epson Group on two pending lawsuits.
Seiko Epson alleged patent infringement on specific Multi Union inkjet cartridges often sold under its Print-Rite brand and filed action against the company in the U.S. District Court in Portland, Ore. The suit was filed in April 2001 for 23 models and in March 2005 for an additional 49 models.
The settlement, which was reached after what Multi Union called in a written statement “vigorous litigation” efforts, prohibits Multi Union from selling the prescribed compatible inkjet cartridges within the United States. Multi Union noted, however, that there are no restrictions on these cartridges outside of the U.S.
The statement also said that although Multi Union was “fully prepared for trial of the first-filed case” slated for Sept. 2005., both companies were able to “settle both cases through mediation, thereby avoiding the huge costs and burden of litigation.”
