HP Says Ink Refilling Stations Violate Patents
HP claims that the ink being used in the new printer refilling stations in OfficeMax and Walgreen’s is too close to the formula for HP ink. They say that the ink infringes on their patents and therefore the stores need to stop using it. According to HP, the formulas represent “decades of research and development” which is true since we all fondly remember those HP inkjet printers from the 60’s.
Walgreens says that they aren’t violating any patents and OfficeMax didn’t really have anything to say. Obviously HP had to do something like this since they make so much money from ink. Even if it is fruitless, it sends the message out that they aren’t very keen on competition and they are willing to go after even the biggest companies out there.
HP warns Walgreens, OfficeMax on ink sales [Chicago Tribune]
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June 24th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
What’s happening? On one hand, HP claims that the refilling stations are violating patents as their formula of ink is quite close to that of HP’s. On the other hand the refilling stations are completing denying this fact. I don’t know whom to believe. Is this some sort of marketing gimmick?