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Think you own your printer cartridge? Think again

Don’t you hate it when you run out printer cartridges? There’s that thorny question: should you buy name brand or one of those less-expensive cartridges that’s been re-filled? Well, that decision may soon be made for you. Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Impression Products Inc. v. Lexmark International Inc. Lexmark, a manufacturer […]

Don’t you hate it when you run out printer cartridges? There’s that thorny question: should you buy name brand or one of those less-expensive cartridges that’s been re-filled? Well, that decision may soon be made for you. Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Impression Products Inc. v. Lexmark International Inc. Lexmark, a manufacturer of printers and cartridges, claims that as part of a condition of its sales, the cartridges it manufactures are protected and cannot be resold. Impression Products, which re-fills cartridges, disagrees. This seemingly small lawsuit could affect the resale of goods of all kinds.

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