Hewlett-Packard settles patent suit

PALO ALTO, Calif. --Computer and printer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. said Thursday it settled an ink cartridge patent infringement lawsuit with InkTec GmbH Zentrale, PCE Group and InkTec Ltd.

Both InkTec companies and PCE admitted the validity of Hewlett-Packard's patents and that they infringed on them. As part of the settlement, the businesses will stop selling the infringing inks and will withdraw remaining products from Germany and other countries.

Both InkTec GmbH and PCE Group are based in Germany, while InkTec Ltd. is located in Korea.

The companies will also pay Hewlett-Packard an undisclosed settlement amount.

"We're pleased to have resolved this matter quickly without extensive litigation and will continue to monitor InkTec and others for possible patent infringement as part of our ongoing worldwide testing and enforcement efforts," Michael Hoffman, senior vice president of the supplies, imaging and printing group for Hewlett-Packard, said in a statement.

Hewlett-Packard filed suit against InkTec GmbH and PCE in Germany in October 2006, saying some of their ink refill kits infringed on two of its patents related to ink.