I recently emailed Sawgrass to ask about the recent patent expiry, this was their response:
For more than 25 years, Sawgrass has been the leader in the dye sublimation and digital ink industry, holding more than 160 patents to-date. Sawgrass patents cover the manufacture, printing, and application of sublimation inks used with inkjet printers and has invested over $10 million into the development of this proprietary technology. The Sawgrass patent portfolio has expanded considerably in the last decade in depth and breadth.
No companies are authorized to produce sublimation inks for printers less than 42.” Sawgrass has licensed the following companies to produce sublimation inks for printers 42” and larger; BASF, Huntsman (formerly Ciba Specialty Chemical), Inktec, J-Teck, Kiian Group, Kiwa Chemical Industry Co., Mimaki Engineering Company, Nazdar, Sensient Technologies, Seiko and Epson.
There are companies currently selling sublimation inks into the market that are believed to infringe on Sawgrass patents. The companies supplying these inks are aware of Sawgrass patent claims and of their products patent infringement. They willfully choose to sell them for their financial gain in disregard of existing patents.
Sawgrass always seeks a business solution to this type of conflict but must ultimately rely on Federal Courts to enforce the patent law and force such suppliers to stop selling patent infringing inks into the marketplace.
More Information
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