U.S. International Trade Commission to Review Ink Cartridges Case
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The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is reviewing a case involving certain ink cartridges and their parts. This case, labeled Investigation No. 337-TA-1451, involves multiple companies and allegations of patent infringement.
The investigation started because of a complaint from Epson Portland Inc., Epson America, Inc., and Seiko Epson Corporation. These companies are from the U.S. and Japan. They claim that certain patents related to ink cartridges were violated. The patents in question include U.S. Patent Nos. 8,540,347, 9,061,508, 11,535,037, 11,820,150, and 12,246,539.
The complaint says that ink cartridges were imported and sold in the U.S. without permission. The USITC began investigating on June 17, 2025. Several companies from China and Hong Kong, like Dongguan Ocbestjet Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Tatrix International China Co., Ltd., and others, were named as respondents. Companies based in the U.S. were also named.
Some respondents were removed from the investigation because the complaint against them was withdrawn. These include companies like Shenzhen Hongxinyuan E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Qiong Wang.
There are companies that have been found in default. This means they did not respond to the complaints. These defaulting companies include Tatrix International China Co., Hengyunda Electronics Co., and Mountain Peak, Inc.
Certain patent claims from the complaint have been dropped. This includes specific claims from the ‘347, ‘508, ‘037, ‘150, and ‘539 patents. The investigation continues with other claims from these patents.
The USITC is especially focused on certain legal questions. They want to know about indirect infringement and economic activity in the U.S. related to these ink cartridges. They are also asking for written opinions about possible actions they might take.
The USITC can decide to stop the importation of products that violate U.S. patent laws. They are seeking inputs about how such actions might affect public health, the economy, and U.S. consumers.
Parties involved are expected to submit their views by July 15, 2026. They should also propose potential remedies if the USITC decides action is necessary. Follow-up replies are due by July 22, 2026.
The commission’s final decision could include exclusion orders, which would stop the products from entering the U.S. They are interested in knowing how this might impact the public.
If a remedy is imposed, the U.S. Trade Representative has 60 days to review the decision. During this time, the products can still enter the U.S. but under certain conditions.
The USITC’s decision on these issues will set important precedents for future trade and patent-related cases. The commission expects detailed replies with clear legal references from all parties involved. The objective is to reach a fair conclusion based on the law and evidence available.
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This article includes content collected from the Federal Register (federalregister.gov). The content is not an official government publication. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For case-specific consultation, please contact us. Read our full Legal Disclaimer, which also includes information on translation accuracy.
