Zipher retains thermal transfer patents

The United Kingdom Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of Zipher Limited in legal proceedings with Markem Corporation regarding ownership of Zipher’s patented thermal transfer printer technology. As a result of the ruling, Zipher retains ownership of the patents, including those related to its solid-state, clutchless ribbon drive. Zipher is a Videojet Technologies Inc. (Chicago, Ill.) company.
Since November 2002, Zipher and several of its employees have been defending the patent ownership in a series of legal claims by Markem Corporation and its subsidiaries. The court concluded that all of the innovations reflected in Zipher’s patents were created at Zipher, by Zipher’s employees.  The Court of Appeal noted that ‘it is self-evident that the [Zipher machine] is superior to the [Markem] SmartDate.’  Zipher also intends to seek an order that Markem compensate Zipher for costs related to the proceedings.
‘We are very pleased with the Court of Appeal’s decision,’ says Kent Morris, Zipher’s managing director.  ‘From the beginning, we believed Markem’s allegations were unfounded.  The court’s judgment affirms Zipher’s position.’
Zipher’s thermal transfer technology is sold through Videojet under the DataFlex brand. Zipher also sells its thermal transfer and ink jet printers through an independent distribution network under the Zodiac and Torus brands, respectively.