Patent background:

Governments grant patents to individuals and companies so that they can protect their unique inventions.

Any inventor of new products or processes is eligible to be granted patents. This can refer to anybody from a person working alone in their garage, to a multinational company. Patents prevent others from producing or selling these inventions without consent within the territory in question. Information on patents is freely available, in order that everyone can be aware of, and benefit from, their content.

Patents can be seen as an incentive, even a reward, for the extensive research and development necessary to innovate and invent new solutions. Patents are the property of the inventor and just as tangible items, such as a house or car, they are protected against theft. Patents are legally protected against infringement – but it is the responsibility and duty of the owner of the patent to take action.

Infringement occurs when the invention or part of the invention is used without permission. The sale and supply of patent-infringing products exploits technology owned by others, and it is never acceptable to steal others’ ideas.

Further information about patents can be found on the European Patent Office website at http://www.european-patent-office.org .

What patent protection means for Epson:

Epson has always been at the cutting edge of technological development in all areas of its business and is held in high regard for its breakthroughs, such as the 3LCD projector, Micro Piezo print head and UltraChrome ink technology. In-depth information about these and many other innovations can be found here. Only through the protection of its inventions can Epson continue its expansive research and development programmes from which the next generation of technology will be born, to serve its customers better and ensure the future success of the company.

What patent protection means for the ink cartridge market:

Epson welcomes fair competition and innovations that improve or enhance technology for consumers, from anyone who can produce an alternative product without infringing upon intellectual property rights. Nevertheless, even if a company is only reselling products, it is their responsibility to ensure they are not infringing upon these rights. To this end, where infringements of its patents are found, Epson takes a very even-handed approach in order to bring it to the attention of the infringer and reach an agreement, only resorting to litigation where all other options have been exhausted.

What patent protection means for the consumer:

Epson’s actions to protect its intellectual property rights give significant benefits to you, the consumer. Alongside the new and innovative products whose benefits you will continue to enjoy, independent tests prove that Epson ink cartridges provide the highest quality and longest-lasting prints possible from an Epson printer, whilst, even in spite of patent infringements, the use of non-Epson cartridges can lead to clogging of and damage to your printer. An investigation into print permanence conducted by Wilhelm Imaging Research can be found at http://wilhelm-research.com/hardcopy/hardcopy.html

Only the use of genuine Epson products will ensure the continued operation of your Epson printer and your satisfaction with the results.

‘Did you know:’

- Patents are only granted for new inventions with an inventive step that are industrially useful.
- The first UK patent was granted in 1449, for a method of making stained glass.
- The European Patent Office is based in Munich and allows inventors to apply for patents across Europe.
- The European Patent Office receives 178,000 patent applications per year.
- The American inventor Thomas Edison accumulated over 1,000 patents for his inventions.
- Governments and authorities commonly use the number of patents filed by a country as a measure of its innovation and development.
- Seiko Epson currently holds the most patents registered in Japan (source: IP Bewertungs AG, Jan ‘07.)

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