higher prices on cartridges!
The community should write a terse letter to Lexmark and threaten to withdraw support for its printers.
Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
Summary
Lexmark filed a patent infringement complaints that accuse 24 companies of violating 15 patents owned by Lexmark.
Topics
Lexmark filed a patent infringement complaint last week with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Both suits accuse 24 companies that import replacement cartridges for Lexmark laser printers of violating 15 patents owned by Lexmark.
Both suits name the same 24 defendants. The ITC complaint--the now-standard venue for taking patent disputes against companies that import goods to the United States--asks that the defendants' products be banned from import and sale in the States. The federal lawsuit asks for an injunction on sales of the disputed products, as well as monetary damages.
This is not the first time Lexmark has battled the aftermarket-printing industry. In 2003, Lexmark famously tried to invoke the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in an attempt to block a toner refill company from making replacement cartridges for Lexmark products. Lexmark ultimately lost the case, but it hasn't been alone in its fight against cartridge makers.
For more of this story, read Lexmark sues 24 cartridge makers over patents on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 43 Talkback(s)
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Linux Geek24th Aug 2010 -
Or just don't by Lexmark
@Linux Geek
My last printer was a Lexmark. I hated printing anything because the ink cost so much. Now I've got a Kodak with lower-priced cartridges and I love it. It's a higher up-front cost for the price of the printer, but lower cost in the long term. Some other brands are also starting to follow Kodak's pricing model.
K B24th Aug 2010 -
Who do you think makes those Kodak printers?
Or the Dell printers? Lexmark, of course.
itpro_z24th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
@itpro_z
Uh, no.... they are two totally separate companies, not even under the same 'super-company'.
Lerianis1025th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
@K B my current printer is a Lexmark and I never buy Lexmark ink. My printer is old and I won't be buying another Lexmark. It's innate for human beings to think a name brand is better than generic,......until the price for generic makes too much sense and you realize it works just as well.
rman5626th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
@Linux Geek
I bet the reason they are filing suit is because they don't have enough market support. Their printers kind of suck and I think a lot of consumers know that. How else do they boost profits then, take money from companies that make better stuff than they do.
kwabinalars24th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
@kwabinalars Kinda suck?? As far as I'm concerned they produce the worst printers on the planet! If You own one of their printers, (and YES Dell's are relabled Lexies!) I'd run to the nearest Best-Buy or Sams or even Walmart and get an Epson or HP! Heck even get a Brother and be happier in a short while!
barefoot197625th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
@Linux Geek really? you think so? I don't think lexmark has the corner on the printer market and I know whether or not they win or lose, just for filing this suit I won't buy another lexmark.rman5626th Aug 2010 -
Junk patents strike again
The patent office has spent the last two decades creating a legal minefield. Patent reform is long overdue. All existing patents need to be re-evaluated and 90% of them should be tossed. A patent should be difficult to get. The difficulty should lie in "prior art" and "non-obvious". Almost all patents have prior art and/or are merely incremental changes. And, except for the staff at the patent office, they are obvious.
sismoc24th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
@sismoc Here here! Everyone knows about frivolous lawsuits, but how many people know about frivolous patents? I've actually been advised to patent some of my stuff, but until the system is revised, I have no great motivation to do so.
WriterOfCode24th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
I tossed my Lexmark when it became increasingly difficult to find the right cartridge.
Over the decades (yes decades) I've tried 'em all and in some cases spent a large sum of money.
The printer I have been happiest with is the HP f2120 I got from a Target end cap for $35
Ashtonian24th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
@Ashtonian I had a similar experience. After a service pack upgrade, my lexmark printer would no longer work with my vista OS, which meant that I ditched the lexmark and went with a cheap HP printer which has caused me no difficulties.WriterOfCode24th Aug 2010 -
Lemark, there's this thing called
Apparently, Lexmark forgot that there are other companies out there that manufacture printers; and if they keep finding ways to fsck over their customers, those customers will go elsewhere. I've been running an HP LaserJet 5 for *years*. It's still running strong and getting replacement cartridges is a breeze.
JLBer24th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
"For more of this story, read 'Lexmark sues 24 cartridge makers over patents' on CNET News."
Uh, no? There is no more to the story than reported here, except for links.
Barc77724th Aug 2010 -
RE: Lexmark files patent suits against 24 cartridge makers
Lexmark is a rip-off merchant. Its branded cartridges are a rip off. The only way an average user can afford to keep one of Lexmark's toner-guzzlers going is to use re-manufactured or third party consumables.
Clearly this is an example of yet another giant US IT corporation trying to use flawed patent laws in order to shaft the consumer. I sincerely hope Lexmark loses its case and faces punitive damages for bringing the matter to court in the first place.
Best wishes, G.
mrgoose24th Aug 2010
Talkback - Tell Us What You Think
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