HP reaches resolution over counterfeit ink cartridge issue

Hewlett Packard has reached a resolution on its legal case related to counterfeit ink cartridges.

Hewlett Packard (HP) has reached a "substantial" resolution in its legal case related to a Taiwanese firm allegedly using HP parts to make counterfeit ink cartridges before selling them through US outlets such as Amazon.

A law suit had been filed in a San Francisco federal court last week in which HP charged MicroJet Technology of Taiwan and other firms from China, Hong Kong and the US, with infringing six patents held by the firm relating to HP ink cartridges.

The firm claimed that MicroJet allegedly used more than 300,000 genuine HP colour and black and white ink printheads to create copy-cat cartridges.

It has settled its lawsuit against the makers and expects the International Trade Commission to rule against the rest.

Stephen Nigro, senior vice president, Inkjet and Web Services Business, Imaging and Printing Group, HP, said: "HP is pleased with the outcome on these matters and remains committed to vigorously pursuing legal enforcement against practices that do not respect's HP's intellectual property rights."

By Jamie Foster