Presstek forces VIM reseller to cease plate imports and sales in patent spat

Digital imaging firm Presstek has succeeded in getting one of the US distributors of plates from rival manufacturer, VIM technologies, to stop importing and selling those plates under allegations of patent infringement.

US distributor Ohio Graphco has agreed not to import or sell any of VIM's printing plates and to cooperate in an investigation being carried out by the International Trade Commission (ITC).

However, the news was not all good for Presstek, which revealed at the same time that it had to pay $800,000 in damages to settle a legal suite against Reda National Company. Initially Reda had initially sought damages of $9.7m.

The Reda dispute was one of three long-standing cases that Presstek said had been resolved.

The other two were against Creo and Fuji Photo Film, dating back to 2005 and 2003 respectively. Both concerned patent infringement, but over a separate matter to the VIM suit.

Terms of the settlement in each case was not disclosed. However, Presstek said that it was pleased with the outcome.

The group must now await the outcome of the ITC investigation over the patent infringement suit against VIM. There are also two other suits outstanding in the US against distributors of VIM products, and one against a Canadian supplier.

James Van Horn, general counsel and secretary for Presstek, said: "We are pleased to put these significant legal matters in our rear-view mirror. The resources committed to these prior disputes can now be redirected to the execution of the company's business strategy.

"With respect to the infringement claims, the company will continue to vigorously protect and enforce its valuable intellectual property rights, and we will also seek reasonable business solutions to these claims as they present themselves."

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