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Lexmark Sues 24 Companies Over Toner-Cartridge Patents

Posted by timothy on from the nothing-like-a-little-rent-seeking dept.

eldavojohn writes "Remember back in 2003, when Lexmark tried to use the DMCA to stop aftermarket toner cartridges from being produced? Well, they're now suing 24 companies for infringing on 15 patents they have on toner cartridges. The article also notes that Lexmark has been filing lawsuits over patent infringement on formulas for their inks."

4 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Lexmark still sells printers? by Darkness404 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes, Lexmark still sells printers and yes, their printers still cost less than their ink cartridges. And yes, their drivers are as crappy as ever.

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    Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
  2. Re:Formulas? by finarfinjge · · Score: 4, Informative

    You don't seem too familiar with the various types of intellectual property and how they are regulated. Copyright is not patent. You can indeed copyright a recipe. You can also patent it. The entire drug industry depends on it. The more specific the patent, the easier it is for someone to make a trivial change to the recipe and outflank the patent. As such, it is advisable to make one's patent application as general as possible. Whether you believe that is bad or good, it is the law. As for the specifics of toner cartridges, I'd be very surprised if any particular cartridge was only covered by one patent.

    Cheers

    JE

  3. Re:Lexmark on Linux by Andorin · · Score: 4, Informative

    A better link to the comic for anyone who views this thread after tonight, when a new comic goes up.

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    That Anonymous Coward guy is pretty annoying. Can we have the government censor him or something?
  4. Re:Formulas? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think you are correct. See below exert:

    How do I protect my recipe?
    A mere listing of ingredients is not protected under copyright law. However, where a recipe or formula is accompanied by substantial literary expression in the form of an explanation or directions, or when there is a collection of recipes as in a cookbook, there may be a basis for copyright protection. Note that if you have secret ingredients to a recipe that you do not wish to be revealed, you should not submit your recipe for registration, because applications and deposit copies are public records. See FL 122, Recipes.

    Source: U.S. Copyright office