ITC Asks for Comments on Section 337 Complaint on Toner Cartridges

The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by May 21 on public interest factors raised by Canon’s request for a ban on imports of unauthorized laser printer toner cartridges that it says infringe its patents. Canon’s May 7 Section 337 complaint says Ninestar, Aster, Print-Rite, International Laser Group, and ASTA, all of China, are manufacturing unauthorized toner cartridges for use in certain Canon and Hewlett-Packard laser printers. The toner cartridges are being sold by 15 retailers in the U.S., it said. Canon is asking for a cease and desist order banning sale of the unauthorized toner cartridges. It is also asking for a general exclusion order banning imports of all infringing toner cartridges, or alternatively limited exclusion orders banning imports of ingraining cartridges by each respondent.