Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 19th
NEW YORK (AP) - Computer and printer maker Hewlett-Packard said Wednesday that it has resolved an ink cartridge patent infringement lawsuit with Brazil's Rio Branco Ltda., a distributor of Maxprint ink cartridges.
HP had filed a suit in Brazil in April 2011, alleging that HP-compatible inkjet print cartridges were being imported and sold in Brazil that infringed on HP patents. It described the settlement with Rio Branca as amicable.
The settlement includes the Maxprint brand's acknowledgement that HP's patents relating to its integrated printhead inkjet cartridges are valid and enforceable, HP said. HP said Maxprint has also agreed to stop selling the ink cartridges in question in Brazil and in other countries that offer Maxprint cartridges.
Maxprint, in agreement with HP, has until Dec. 1 to sell any remaining inventory, HP said. Once that date passes, HP said Maxprint may no longer sell the cartridges that infringe on the patent.
Maxprint must also reimburse some of HP's litigation costs, but the exact amount was not specified, HP said.
HP also said Wednesday that it has reached deals with several other companies regarding print cartridge sales in Brazil. HP said that the companies - which include Canal Verde, Edeltec, Suprijet and others - have confirmed that HP's patents are valid and enforceable. The companies said they would immediately take steps to stop from offering or selling products in Brazil affected by the patents, HP said.
Earlier this month HP announced that it planned to cut about 2,000 more jobs than it had previously announced as CEO Meg Whitman tries to turn the company around. The Palo Alto, Calif., company said in a regulatory filing that said it would eliminate 29,000 jobs by October 2014, up from the 27,000 cuts it announced in May when HP employed about 350,000 people.
Shares of Hewlett-Packard Co. fell 13 cents to $18.12 in afternoon trading. Its shares are up from a 52-week low of $16.77 set Aug. 31. They are down 40 percent from their high for the past year of $30 in mid-February.
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