In November 2011, after a three year legal battle, Tech-ni-fold reached a settlement in its patent infringement lawsuit against two Minnesota-based companies, Update and D&R Bindery Solutions.
The UK-based firm has now reached a resolution with Michigan-based reseller Rosback Company, against which it also filed a patent infringement suit.
Under the initial 2011 settlement, Update and D&R agreed to cease manufacturing and sales of its Ultimate Score product, meaning Rosback was also prevented from reselling the products, which it sold under the name Truescore.
But earlier this year Tech-ni-fold discovered that Rosback was selling TrueScore-Pro and TrueScore-Pro Quad products that also infringed Tech-ni-fold’s Tri-Creaser patents.
"Upon further investigation we concluded that although the look of the devices had changed in some respects, both products clearly infringed our patents," said managing director at Tech-ni-fold Graham Harris.
He explained that the Tri-Creaser patent protects the rotary rubber creasing technology used in 80% of Tech-ni-fold products. He added: "We wrote to Rosback, and last week Rosback agreed to cease selling the products."
Harris is still concerned however, about how many TrueScore-Pro and TrueScore-Pro Quad devices have already been sold.
He said: "I have fought quietly and fairly for five years to protect my IP and good name in the market. It is sad that litigation is sometimes the only tool that works to deter certain behaviour. But I will not hesitate to start litigation proceedings next time I see a product that our legal team and I deem to be potentially infringing."
He added: "Tech-ni-Fold welcomes competition, but it must be fair and just, and I hope that by speaking out, others will think twice about chancing a design to gain quick access into the market."
Rosback was unavailable for comment.
