Canon’s Bid to Block Toner Imports Will Be Considered by ITC

The U.S. International Trade Commission launched an investigation of a patent-infringement complaint Canon filed to block imports of rival toner cartridges by two dozen companies including Ninestar and Static Control Components.

• Canon claims the companies infringe 13 patents related to developer supply containers and components for its imageRunner copy machines
• Canon, which makes its own containers at its plant in Virginia, is seeking an order that would block imports from any company bringing in unauthorized components, saying companies “actively try to remain unknown and unidentifiable”
• Canon has received such orders from the ITC in 2012 and 2014, for toner cartridges...