Digital BW, The Print

There has also recently been a successful lawsuit against makers of
carts cloned from HP and HP won. I'm not sure about Canon.

It seems to me, though I know little of the specifics of engineering
these things, that what is needed is a totally unique ink delivery
system for desktop units that does not infringe upon the patents held
by these corporations. From a user persective it appears that 3rd
party ink manufacturers have depended on almost exact copies of
Epson's chipped carts and hoped for the best. Even the cis units use
Epson cloned carts in them. Now they will be highly motivated to
create their own totally uniqe designs, possibly made here in the US
to avoid the import fears that foreign companies certainly will
respond to. If end users can fill their own from bulk inks it may end
up being a postive thing for us consumers. Buying little quantities of
ink in tiny carts is a rip off anyway in my opinion, regardess who
fills them.

I'll be there will be a lot more court battles to come though. As of
right now Epson has the small desktop suppliers on the run. I think we
all knew this was going to happen eventually. Of course Bush is going
to sign it, if he can read it. He might have to have Cheney read it to
him and show him where to sign though.

john