VistaPrint announced that on Monday, May 14, it had filed a complaint against two subsidiaries of Taylor Corporation: 123Print, Inc., and Drawing Board, Inc., alleging that the two companies had infringed on three patents held by VistaPrint. And today, May 16, Markzware filed a complaint for patent infringement against Enfocus Software and Artwork Systems. While two patent infringement complaints don't make a trend, it's very interesting that they should happen so close together. What it does remind us is that computerized workflow is becoming a way of life!
The VistaPrint complaint sites three patents, 6,247,011 (filed in December 1997 and awarded in June 2001), 6,631,375 (filed in December 1998 and awarded in October 2003) and 7,120,634 (filed in June 2001 and awarded in October 2006), describe a computerized prepress and authoring for document creation.
As you read the VistaPrint patents, take note of the titles; all three refer to "computerized prepress." Yet the actual patent outlines a detailed document authoring process to create and manipulate a document including inserting images. The "translation into a suitable prepress format" seems to happen on a server somewhere, however no mention is made as to how the file is "translated," only that a suitable format might be PostScript.
The Markzware complaint alleges infringement on patent 5,963,641 (filed in November 1997 and awarded in October 1999)Â for a "device and method for examining, verifying, correcting and approving electronic documents prior to printing, transmission or recording."
All of these patents are geared to automate preflight and prepress processes that once were difficult to manage. By implementing computerized or digital workflows, print service providers are able to make the process of manufacturing print more efficient and less costly. At the same time, these automated processes remove the artisanal variablility from the process and make the production of print-ready files faster and more accurate.
As we continue to investigate these stories, you'll hear all the details.
Discussion
By Jim Wilson on May 17, 2007
I certainly hope that these are found to be without merit - otherwise we'll all be paying these companies for the privilege of processing our documents even if we don't use their software. These patent filings are so broad as to be useless and sound more like a shakedown of the big players than a legitimate complaint.
By Sam I. on May 17, 2007
Vista is a thorn at every printer's side. Halph of their patents are there to stop the progress of such movements as CIP4 (JDF), Web to print and lights out production. If you ever consider of becoming profitable... check with Vista first to see if you are allowed.
Discussion
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