Xerox Alleges Patent Infringement by Mita

Xerox Corp., the world’s biggest copier maker, sued the U.S. unit of Japan’s Mita Industrial Co., claiming patent infringement, and is seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Rochester, N.Y., alleges that “a number of products,” including a controller that shuts down machines, made by Mita Copystar America Inc. infringe four Xerox patents, a Xerox representative said. The suit reflects Xerox President G. Richard Thoman’s pledge to “vigorously defend” patents at Xerox, legendary for losing rights to such technology as the computer mouse. The Stamford, Conn.-based company said it’s also seeking an injunction to bar Mita’s selling the products. Mita spokesman Larry Grant declined to comment, saying he hadn’t seen the suit. Xerox shares fell $4 to close at $79.56 on the NYSE.