In late May 2010, Canon took legal action against five Korean OPC manufacturers. On June 28, Canon filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) against Ninestar and 19 other companies, claiming infringement of two of its patents covering OPC drum gears in the toner cartridges.

 

These legal cases cast a long shadow on the aftermarket supplies industry. Are OEMs taking on toner cartridges? How do we build a stronger industry for sustainable development? What will be the future trends and directions in the aftermarket supply industry? Ed O’Connor, who has represented clients before the United States Supreme Court and the International Trade Commission and has won patent infringement, antitrust, and other intellectual property cases throughout the United States, will address these questions at the GRIGA meeting.

 

GRIGA was initiated and will be hosted by ‘Recycling Times’. The speakers include the most influential figures in the industry. Arnald Ho, who serves as Chairman of the Printer Consumables Committee of China and Chairman of Print-Rite Holdings Ltd, will join hands with 55-year industry veteran Art Diamond to chair the charter GRIGA. Those speakers who have confirmed seats at GRIGA are: Aydan Bekirov, Publisher of RechargEast Magazine, Neil Coulton, Technical Director of UKCRA, J.M.Dassani, President of ICRRA, Vincent van Dijk, Secretary General of ETIRA, John E. Shane, Director of InfoTrends and Steve Weedon, Executive VP of Static Control USA.