Samsung hit by US Lawsuit September 09, 2008 09:08 by John Sollars

Global Electronics Manufacturer Samsung has been hit by a lawsuit in the US.  Alleging that it programs its printers to report that it is out of ink or toner before the cartridge is actually empty.  Los Angeles based Consumer-Law firm Kabateck Brown Kellner filed the suit alleging that Samsung deliberately designs its printers to flash an "empty" message and shut down - even when there is a significant amount of toner left in the cartridge, notifying users that they need to replace the cartridge.

The suit also alleges that Samsung has never disclosed publicly "that a significant amount of useable toner remain in the Samsung brand toner cartridges" when "the toner cartridge is 'empty' and in need of replacement".

This is not the first time that Kabateck Brown Kellner has sued a major printer manufacturer.  Two years ago the firm reached a settlement with Epson in a suit that made allegations like the ones the firm now is making about Samsung.  Despite agreeing to settle for a compensation package valued at more than $350 Million, Epson maintained that it had done nothing wrong and that it kept extra ink in its cartridges in order to 'maintain print quality and reliability'.

The firm is also suing Apple for allegedly making false and misleading claims in the marketing of its iMac computer.