The US Federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that Lexmark cannot prevent Static Control Components from manufacturing printer toner cartridges that operate with its printers under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The act, which tries to curtail piracy of music and movies amongst other things, cannot be used by Lexmark in conjunction with copyright law to create monopolies of manufactured goods for themselves, it has been decreed. Lexmark had argued that Static Control had no right under the DMCA to circumvent electronics that prevented Lexmark printers from using anything other than Lexmark cartridges. But the Federal appeals court rejected that notion. Lexmark are reviewing the case and preparing their next move. More here.