Presstek Sues VIM Distributor Prograf for Patent and Trademark Violations

In February 2008, Presstek filed a Complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against Israeli printing plate manufacturer VIM Technologies, Ltd. and its manufacturing partner Hanita Coatings RCA, Ltd. for infringement of Presstek's patent and trademark rights. Presstek also sued four U.S. based distributors of VIM products: Spicers Paper, Inc., Guaranteed Service & Supplies, Inc., Ohio Graphco Inc., and Recognition Systems Inc., as well as one Canadian based distributor, AteCe Canada. Presstek subsequently settled with Ohio Graphco, Inc., which agreed to stop selling the VIM product and to cooperate in the ITC’s investigation. Presstek is seeking, among other things, an Order from the ITC forbidding the importation and sale of the VIM printing plates in the United States; such an Order would be enforced at all U.S. borders by the U.S. Customs Service.