Two Trademark-Infringement Suits Initiated by HP Result in Permanent
Injunctions Against Toner-Cartridge Counterfeiters

HP Urges Consumers to Report Suspected Fraud

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 11, 1995 -- Hewlett-Packard Company today
announced that its legal actions against two distributors and sellers of
counterfeit HP LaserJet printer toner cartridges have resulted in
permanent injunctions prohibiting these companies from selling refilled
toner cartridges as new HP products.

Trademark-infringement allegations are still pending against the remaining
defendants in these two legal actions. Other defendants include additional
sellers and distributors, and several box and label manufacturers.

On Aug. 1, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas,
Dallas Division issued a permanent injunction against International Data
Machines, Inc. (IDM), a Southern-California-based company whose products
were being sold in Texas. On Sept. 7, the U.S. District Court for the
Central District of California, Los Angeles issued a permanent injunction
against Allstate Technology, Inc., also a California-based company. These
defendants have agreed to pay damages to HP.

HP filed suit in December 1994 against IDM and in April 1995 against
Allstate. In both cases, HP alleged that the defendants, by selling or
offering for sale and distributing counterfeit HP toner cartridges, were
intentionally passing off their products to the public as genuine HP toner
cartridges. HP also alleged that these companies were deceiving and
confusing the public and causing HP immediate and irreparable harm. The
HP-owned trademarks that were being misused included the name
Hewlett-Packard, the initials HP, the HP logo and several representations
of the HP toner cartridge model number HP 92295A and 95A.

Shortly after the suits were filed, the respective courts authorized
federal marshals to seize counterfeit toner cartridges and related
business documents from the defendants' offices and warehouses.

These judgments are the latest in a series of favorable outcomes for HP in
its pursuit of toner-cartridge counterfeiters. Within the last two years,
HP has obtained injunctions and monetary awards in similar cases against
several office-supplies distributors and box manufacturers.

"It's HP's policy to vigorously defend its intellectual property, such as
the equity in the Hewlett-Packard name and associated trademarks," said
Neal J. Martini, general manager of HP's Color LaserJet and Consumables
Division in Boise, Idaho. "We owe it to our customers and to ourselves to
pursue those who deceive our customers or compromise the quality
reputation of our products.

"We urge customers who suspect they have been sold counterfeit products to
contact HP, so we can investigate and if appropriate, take action against
the seller," Martini added. "Hewlett-Packard produces printers and related
products that are among the most reliable in the world. If you are
experiencing a number of failures or poor print quality while using what
appear to be HP toner cartridges, you may have purchased refilled
cartridges that have been packaged or otherwise represented as new HP
products."

To report suspected toner fraud to HP, call (208) 333-3988.

HP is a founding member of the Imaging Supplies Coalition for International
Intellectual Property Protection, Inc., an industry coalition established
to deter counterfeiting and other deceptive practices.
 
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