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`Suppliers set aside rivalry to take on US patent trolls
`
`By Simon Nias, Friday 23 May 2014
`Be the first to comment
`Three of the biggest suppliers to the printing industry have joined forces to take on a group of patent
`trolls that have been targeting medium-sized commercial printers in the US.
`
`PIA president and CEO Michael Makin testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in order to limit patent troll abuse
`
`Kodak, Agfa and Heidelberg have filed petitions with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in an effort to combat
`patent licensing demands made on their customers by CTP Innovations.
`
`The three manufacturers are seeking to invalidate two US patents that relate to prepress and CTP workflows (6,738,155 and
`6,611,349), which were originally filed by Banta Corporation in 1999.
`
`CTP Innovations has acquired the patents seemingly with the aim of extracting licensing revenues from commercial printers -
`reportedly starting at $75,000 and rising rapidly the longer it takes for the claims to be settled.
`
`The Printing Industries of America (PIA) has already failed in its attempt to get CTP Innovations' patents invalidated, although it
`has continued to act as a source of information for affected printers and to lobby the USPTO on behalf of the industry.
`
`In a joint statement, the manufacturers said: "We fully support the proper use of the patent system to support legitimate
`intellectual property rights. However, we feel strongly that the infringement claims brought by CTP Innovations are without merit
`CTP Innovations Ex 2002, p. 1
`
`
`
`Eastman Kodak Co. et al., v CTP Innovations, LLC
`IPR2014-00788
`http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1144241/suppliers-set-aside-rivalry-us-patent-trolls[8/28/2014 5:08:49 PM]
`
`
`
`Suppliers set aside rivalry to take on US patent trolls | PrintWeek
`
`and the licensing demands are unsubstantiated. We feel it is important to take this action to support our customers from these
`frivolous claims.”
`
`According to the PIA, more than 40 US printers have been sued for alleged patent infringement, while many hundreds
`more have been sent intimidating letters demanding payment of licensing fees.
`
`The coalition added that it would continue to monitor CTP Innovations' litigation and licensing activities and that it would keep
`its respective customers updated with any further developments regarding the PTO review.
`
`Agfa confirmed that the issue was restricted to the US as there are no corresponding patents elsewhere for so-called 'patent
`trolls' to exploit.
`
`
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`CTP Innovations Ex 2002, p. 2
`
`
`
`Eastman Kodak Co. et al., v CTP Innovations, LLC
`IPR2014-00788
`http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1144241/suppliers-set-aside-rivalry-us-patent-trolls[8/28/2014 5:08:49 PM]
`
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`CTP Innovations Ex 2002, p. 3
`
`
`
`Eastman Kodak Co. et al., v CTP Innovations, LLC
`IPR2014-00788
`http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1144241/suppliers-set-aside-rivalry-us-patent-trolls[8/28/2014 5:08:49 PM]
`
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`Suppliers set aside rivalry to take on US patent trolls | PrintWeek
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`Musty the dog
`Fishtanks? Wouldn't budgie cages be more appropriate for newspapers?
`
`CTP Innovations Ex 2002, p. 4
`
`
`
`Eastman Kodak Co. et al., v CTP Innovations, LLC
`IPR2014-00788
`http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1144241/suppliers-set-aside-rivalry-us-patent-trolls[8/28/2014 5:08:49 PM]
`
`
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`Suppliers set aside rivalry to take on US patent trolls | PrintWeek
`
`News UK rebrands 8,300-plus newsagents in printed newspaper push · 13 hours ago
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`Musty the dog
`It all gets eaten up with Bag Revenue Monitoring Systems, regular bag stock checks and filling in bag revenue
`remittance forms, not to mention setting up the government agency, OFBAG
`AB Group Packaging and PEFC encourage paper bag use · 13 hours ago
`
`colonel sanders
`I don't think you could fit that many paper bags in the same space!
`
`AB Group Packaging and PEFC encourage paper bag use · 13 hours ago
`
`colonel sanders
`If 7 billion bags are used at 5p each thats £350 Million pounds in collected 5p's !! Instead of that being paid in 'tax' it
`might as well go to producing paper bags and being injected back into the...
`AB Group Packaging and PEFC encourage paper bag use · 13 hours ago
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`Dirty Larry
`Thank you for your question.I shall be getting the 5p once I unleash my plastic carrier bag collection on the world...
`
`AB Group Packaging and PEFC encourage paper bag use · 1 day ago
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`CTP Innovations Ex 2002, p. 5
`
`
`
`Eastman Kodak Co. et al., v CTP Innovations, LLC
`IPR2014-00788
`http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1144241/suppliers-set-aside-rivalry-us-patent-trolls[8/28/2014 5:08:49 PM]
`
`
`
`Suppliers set aside rivalry to take on US patent trolls | PrintWeek
`
`CTP Innovations Ex 2002, p. 6
`
`
`
`Eastman Kodak Co. et al., v CTP Innovations, LLC
`IPR2014-00788
`http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1144241/suppliers-set-aside-rivalry-us-patent-trolls[8/28/2014 5:08:49 PM]
`
`