Hewlett-Packard has shut down imports by Teco Europe of clone inkjet cartridges, following an out-of-court settlement.

Teco Europe, part of the Taiwanese Teco group, is also to pay compensation to Hewlett-Packard to cover legal costs and past sales of the product. HP reckons that TTeco Europe "did not seek independent legal advice before starting distribution of the IUT cartridges in the UK". Isn't a distie's life complicated enough without having to check whether its franchises infringe patents?

H-P has filed writs in the UK, France and Germany, alleging the cartridges, made by Taiwanese firm IUT, had infringed its patents. The suits in Germany and France, are aimed directly at IUT and are said by HP to be at "an early stage".

IUT thermal inkjet cartridges are intended to replacem HP 51626A and HP 51629A cartridges. ®