Companies suing over toner cartridges

A North Carolina company is in a legal tussle with printer giant Lexmark International Inc. over the lucrative replacement ink cartridge market.

In a federal lawsuit, Lexmark claims Static Control Components, based in Sanford, violated the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act to swipe a large chunk of Lexmark’s aftermarket printer supply sales.

Lexmark, one of the top U.S. manufacturers of computer printers, tried to fight its new rivals by installing tiny computer chips. They cause Lexmark printers to malfunction if the replacement cartridge isn’t made by Lexington, Ky.-based Lexmark.

In response, Static Control designed its own chips, above, that enable its replacement cartridges to work in the Lexmark printers. That led to the lawsuit, in which Lexmark alleges Static Control’s microchip includes copies of its copyrighted software in violation of the 1998 copyright law.

Media

Turner to leave AOL

AOL Time Warner reported a staggering fourth-quarter loss of $44.9 billion Wednesday, largely because of the declining value of the world’s biggest media company.

AOL Time Warner took a $45.5 billion charge to account for the company’s plunging value. Without that “goodwill writedown,” AOL said its results actually beat Wall Street estimates.

Separately, the company announced Ted Turner was stepping down as vice chairman. AOL chief Richard Parsons said Turner wants to spend more time on his philanthropic endeavors.

“He’s concluded now is the right time to make more space for his other activities,” Parsons said.

Turner told Parsons late Tuesday that he would step down, effective in May.