Consumables
U.S. International Trade Commission to Investigate VIM Technologies and its Distributors Regarding Potential Violations of Pressteks Patent and Trademark Rights
Friday 14. March 2008 - Presstek, Inc., the leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset business solutions, today announced it has been notified by the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") that it is instituting an investigation related to the Companys previously announced complaint against Israeli printing plate manufacturer VIM Technologies, Ltd. and its manufacturing partner Hanita Coatings RCA, Ltd. for infringement of Pressteks patent and trademark rights.
Presstek also sued three U.S. based distributors of VIM products: Guaranteed Service & Supplies, Inc., Ohio Graphco, Inc., and Recognition Systems, Inc., as well as one Canadian based distributor, AteCe Canada. Presstek is seeking, among other things, an Order from the ITC forbidding the importation and sale of the VIM printing plates in the United States; such an Order would be enforced at all U.S. borders by the U.S. Customs Service.
“The quick and favorable response to our complaint with the ITC is encouraging,” commented Jeff Jacobson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Presstek. “We intend to aggressively defend our valuable intellectual property both in the United States and abroad.”
Presstek is the leading manufacturer and marketer of high tech digital imaging solutions to the graphic arts and laser imaging markets and owns hundreds of patents in the United States and worldwide covering its technology. Pressteks ITC Complaint alleges that VIMs “Di-R Waterless Processless Thermal Plate Rolls” infringe Pressteks U.S. Patent Nos. 5,339,737 and 5,487,338. Presstek also claims that VIM is infringing Pressteks Federally registered DI Trademark. Presstek has held this trademark since 1992.