US manufacturer Presstek was quick to publicise the "important judgement" after the Regional Court of Düsseldorf ruled that four of VIM's plates infringed on the German part of Presstek's patents and ordered VIM, its distributor Reinsch Handel, and the latter's owner to cease all sales of the related VIM plates.
General counsel for Presstek, James Van Horn, said: "This should serve as a warning that the purchase and use of VIM products violates patent rights and comes with the risk of significant liability."
However, VIM soon responded to what it called Presstek's "misleading press release" and stressed its intention to appeal the German judgement as soon as possible.
Furthermore, VIM said it could continue to sell its digital printing plates in the US, Europe and even in Germany "until the obligatory security in the amount of €1m is served by Presstek".
Presstek action vs VIM
Feb 2008 files a complaint with the ITC in the US
May 2008 files complaint at Düsseldorf District Court
Jan 2009 files lawsuit against US distributor Prograf Digital Services
April 2009 wins US (Prograf) case and German (VIM) lawsuit
VIM vows to keep trading despite Presstek German ruling
VIM Technologies has hit back at a German court's ruling that it is infringing four of Presstek's digital offset plate patents, vowing to continue selling the plates.
