Canon Sues for Patent Royalties on Unauthorized Ink Cartridges

Canon Inc. alleges that unauthorized toner cartridges made by Hong Kong-based Print-Rite Holdings Ltd. for use in Hewlett Packard laser printers infringe a patent for a cartridge with a gear whose teeth are angled to reduce noise and vibration.

Print-Rite Imaging Technology and Union Technology International sell cartridges that can be used in place of HP cartridge models 48A, 141A, 134A, 134X, 138A, and 138X, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

Tokyo-based Canon says the accused products are made in China by another Print-Rite subsidiary, Print-Rite Unicorn Image Products Co. ...