Digital BW, The Print

I agree with you in principle, but I don't know that I agree with you in
this
case (or many similar cases).

We want innovative devices (including printers) that support media (ink)
and
accessories (cartridges) from many competing suppliers, plain and
simple. Has
nothing to do with Epson's fair chances of making a few bucks. (No company
has a "right" to profit from their innovations at all. If that were
true, I'd do alot
better in the stock market :-)

I can't recall the vendor, but a data backup/storage company added some
encryption
to their compression, arguing that only their software can be used to
access backed
up data (e.g., DMCA). The software might be quite innovative, but the
artificial
restriction (ultimately legal) was not.I think in this case, alot of bad
press and a lawsuit
(State Farm or some other big buyer) rectified the situation.

The computer industry, definitely with some exceptions, is largely
driven by evolving
industry de jure and de facto standards, and a strong customer
preference for some
degree of interoperability and customer choice. Still many vendors make
plenty of
money.

The consumers in the consumer technology industries are far less
organized and
are generally treated like saps as they waste their $$$ on proprietary
technologies.

So back to Epson. If their printers are innovative, then sell 'em. If
their ink is innovative
(and it is!), then sell that. But cartridges? Me'thinks not. In any
case, customers
should pay for the innovations on a case by case basis. I should be able
to buy a
really nice, fast Sony DVD burner and use really crappy DVD media in it
if I want
too.

Scott


Steve Kale wrote:

> In the long run this is good for us. Clearly these companies or their
> suppliers were infringing on Epson patents. Epson deserves the right to
> earn a return from its inventions. I don't think this spells doom for
> those
> with genuine research investment of their own. If anything it will help
> them see that their inventions too will be protected from piracy. Genuine
> competition is good. Piracy is bad for all, including us consumers.
>
>
> > From: Richard Nagle <cms01@...>
> > Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 10:42:24 -0400
> > To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: [Digital BW] Epson & Inks ( Major Concern)
> >
> > Read this story below:
> > so, if Epson is suing companies that make third party inks, for its
> printers,
> > is MIS going to be in trouble in the future?
> >
> > Would this spell doom for all others as well ?
> > I mean, I don\ufffd\ufffdt want to get hook on a ink, and then its gone forever.
> >
> > Regards-
> > Rick
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Epson hits another ink cartridge maker
> > By Martyn Williams, IDG News Service
> >
> > For the second time this week a manufacturer of Epson-compatible ink
> > cartridges
> > is taking its products off the market as a result of legal action by
> Seiko
> > Epson
> > Corp., the Japanese company said Friday.
> >
> > Environmental Business Products Ltd. has stopped importing and supplying
> > Epson-compatible printer cartridges as a result of an out of court
> settlement
> > between the two companies, Epson said in a statement. Epson had brought
> > proceedings against the London company in the U.K. High Court for
> infringement
> > of a number of patents and registered designs owned by Epson, the
> statement
> > said.
> >
> > The company and others like it offer ink cartridges or refills that
> can be
> > used
> > in Epson printers and are typically cheaper than those from Epson.
> For printer
> > makers the sale of replacement ink is a major source of profit.
> >
> >
> > Full Story Here:
> > http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/06/17/epson/index.php?pf=1
> >
> >
> >
> > FYI:
> > Rick
>
>
>
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