Presstek Sues Spicers Paper

Presstek has added Spicers Paper to the list of companies it is suing for patent infringement.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has ordered that Spicers Paper be added to a pending action before the ITC as a result of Spicers’ distribution of printing plates sold by Israeli printing plate manufacturer VIM Technologies. VIM and its manufacturing partner, Hanita Coatings RCA, were sued in the ITC action earlier this year by Presstek for infringement of Presstek’s patent and trademark rights.

“Our intellectual property is a valuable corporate asset and we will protect it,” declares James R. Van Horn, general counsel and secretary for Presstek. “Spicers Paper has been aggressively marketing and distributing VIM printing plates, in clear violation of Presstek’s patent and trademark rights. We intend to take all necessary steps to stop this infringement.”

Presstek is already in the process of suing two other U.S.-based distributors of VIM products, Guaranteed Service & Supplies and Recognition Systems, as well as one Canadian distributor, AteCe Canada.

In June, Ohio Graphco, which had previously been included in the suit, agreed to cease importing and selling any of the allegedly infringing VIM printing plates and to cooperate in the Presstek lawsuit.

Presstek is seeking, among other things, an Order from the ITC forbidding the importation of the VIM printing plates in the U.S. Such an Order would apply not only to VIM, Spicers Paper and the other respondents in the ITC action, but to all dealers, distributors and end-users of infringing VIM printing plates.