Ricoh Americas, Xerox Corporation and Lexmark File Action with U.S Patent and Trademark Office to Combat Patent-Licensing Demands

Sterne Kessler clients Ricoh Americas Corporation, Xerox Corporation and Lexmark International, Inc. today filed two petitions for inter partes review of U.S. Patent No. 8,488,173; and certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,477,410 at the United States Patent & Trademark Office. The new actions are being filed jointly by all three companies in a continuing effort to protect Ricoh, Xerox and Lexmark customers and dealers against the assertion of these patents by MPHJ Technology Investments LLC.

This is the second in series of actions that the companies have undertaken to demonstrate their commitment to their customers and authorized dealer networks. In May 2013, Ricoh and Xerox filed an action to nullify U.S. Patent No. 7,986,426 and help disable MPHJ’s licensing campaign against its customers.

In a joint statement, the companies said “Ricoh, Xerox and Lexmark have clear positions on the protection of intellectual property. We feel strongly that the infringement claims are without merit and the licensing demands of MPHJ are unsubstantiated. We feel it is important to take this action to support our customers and dealer networks from these frivolous claims.”