HP settles ink cartridge patent case with importers

Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced yesterday that it has reached a settlement with several companies concerning the sale of printer ink cartridges HP alleges infringe on its patents. HP says that InkPlusToner.com and Comptree Ink have agreed to stop selling their ink cartridges and to pay HP an undisclosed amount of money; HP is also close to an agreement with another inkjet cartridge company called SmartOne Services.

HP filed complaints with the United States International Trade Commission in September last year, seeking to ban the import of ink cartridges by 11 companies. For now, a fourth company has agreed to stop importing the cartridges. Meanwhile, the judge reviewing the case has also issued a default judgment against the other companies in the original complaint.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at eWeek
- check out this article at Associated Press 

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