FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAWGRASS TECHNOLOGIES FILES PATENT INFRINGEMENT ACTION AGAINST TROPICAL GRAPHICS

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC, July 10, 2003 - Sawgrass Technologies, Inc. announced it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Tropical Graphics, Inc. and EIC Research, Inc. The action alleges that Tropical Graphics and EIC Research, an authorized distributor for Tropical Graphics, are selling and using liquid sublimation ink that infringes on a United States patent issued to Sawgrass. This patent, along with several others, was awarded to Sawgrass for innovations in adapting sublimation inks for high quality transfer printing applications utilizing inkjet printers.

Nathan Hale, Founder and CEO stated, “Everyone in the industry knows that Sawgrass pioneered this technology and as a result we have been awarded numerous U.S. and International patents. Sawgrass has invested more than $10 million developing the technology and another $10 million to provide software and vertical market solutions to commercialize the technology”. He further stated, “ We intend to protect our intellectual property rights and aggressively pursue all companies that willfully infringe on our technology.”

Sawgrass filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division. The suit seeks a permanent injunction barring Tropical Graphics, EIC Research and all others acting in concert with them from the sale of their infringing ink and from engaging in unfair business practices.

This action follows a similar step taken by Sawgrass against BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, which concluded recently in a comprehensive settlement of patent litigation in which BASF licensed products under the Sawgrass patents.

The current action against Tropical Graphics alleges that the defendants have also assisted and encouraged others to infringe upon Sawgrass’ patented methods and engage in unfair business practices such as false and deceptive statements regarding Sawgrass’ products. The lawsuit seeks actual and punitive damages in addition to injunctive relief.

About Sawgrass

Sawgrass Technologies, Inc., based in Mount Pleasant, SC, is a specialty chemical company that develops innovative vertical market solutions with patented digital printing technology. By combining leading-edge digital ink products with advanced color management software, Sawgrass has developed state-of-the-art systems for high-quality color printing of personalized and customized images onto a wide variety of surfaces.

To learn more about Sawgrass, please visit www.sawgrassink.com.

Sawgrass Systems, Inc.
2233 Highway 17 North
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
Phone: (843) 884-1575
Fax: (843) 849-3847
E-Mail: publicrelations@sawgrassink.com.
Website URL: www.sawgrassink.com