U.S. International Trade Commission
Ten Section 337 Investigations were terminated in the first half of 2024. Of those ten investigations, two involved design patents. Although those investigations ended with the Commission issuing no remedial orders (including...more
In a recent presentation featuring Uma Everett, Director at Sterne Kessler, and Dallin Glenn, General Counsel at BTL Industries, Inc., we discussed strategies for succeeding in an ITC investigation, focusing primarily on the...more
While a complainant does not need to have constitutional standing to bring a complaint in the International Trade Commission (ITC), at least one complainant must be the owner or exclusive licensee of the underlying asserted...more
Five days remain to submit comments to the ITC's Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Practice and Procedure for Section 337 investigations: https://www.regulations.gov/, Docket No. MISC-049. The proposed rule changes include:...more
The Commission recently reversed the ALJ’s determination that the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement was satisfied and thereby found that there had been no section 337 violation in Certain Replacement...more
2023 was a calm year for the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) with no revisions to the USITC Rules & Procedures.1 And while the number of Section 337 complaints filed experienced a three-year low, administrative law...more
The Commission may grant a cease and desist order (“CDO”) when it finds a violation of Section 337. See 19 U.S.C. 1337(f)(1). Historically the Commission would grant a CDO upon a showing that a respondent had a “commercially...more
In comparison to prior years, the ITC had a lower case load in 2023. This does not appear to have any relationship with the average time to resolution, but it could be contributing to the ITCs increased tendency to resolve...more
Section 337 investigations at the ITC have proven to be an efficient and powerful method for Complainants seeking relief from unfair importation. The Commission’s injunctive powers provide an attractive forum for Complainants...more
This month’s ITC wrap-up focuses on an initial determination in an investigation regarding constitutional standing, which is a requirement at the Commission as in federal court....more
Not surprisingly, 2023 was another notable year for design rights around the globe. However, nowhere more than the U.S. did we see court decisions that will, in the case of one, and could in the case of another, have...more
Addressing a decision by the US International Trade Commission finding a violation of Section 337 based on importation of certain TV products, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed that the patent holder had...more
This month’s ITC Wrap-Up reviews a recent investigation exploring exemptions to the Commission’s remedial orders. Certain Wet Dry Surface Cleaning Devices, Inv. No. 337-TA-1304, Final Determination (Dec. 18, 2023)....more
This month’s ITC Wrap-Up discusses the Commission’s recent decision in Certain LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Systems and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1363, to affirm the administrative law judge’s decision to...more
This month’s ITC Wrap-Up reviews recent developments in the Commission’s scope of authority to review (1) infringement by “alternative” products and (2) infringement of claims other than those a product was accused of...more
In August 2023, one complainant filed a new complaint for a violation of Section 337 in the International Trade Commission. Specifically, on August 22, NJOY, LLC, filed a complaint against JUUL Labs, Inc., in Vaporizer...more
Nonpracticing entities have been increasingly active at the U.S. International Trade Commission in recent years, bringing a record 32% of Section 337 Investigations in 2022. In a sense, the rise of NPEs at the ITC was by...more
Last year, in our inaugural issue of “The Year in Review,” we reported that since the landmark jury verdict in the IP litigation between Apple and Samsung in 2012, which awarded more than $1B to Apple for infringement of...more
This month’s ITC Wrap-Up discusses the Commission’s recent decision to omit certain proposed respondents and to narrow the scope of an investigation from that proposed by the complaint in Certain Semiconductors and Devices...more
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) denied a proposed respondent’s request to use the early disposition program to determine whether a complainant met the domestic industry requirement in a Section 337 investigation....more
As we previously discussed in our post outlining the timeline of a typical Section 337 investigation, discovery proceeds very quickly. It commences the day after the Notice of Investigation is published in the Federal...more
We previously covered the basics of a Section 337 investigation, including the timing and prerequisites for filing a Complaint. Unlike in district court, however, the filing of a Section 337 ITC Complaint triggers a series of...more
In a recent decision, ALJ Cheney determined that severance of an investigation was necessary for efficient adjudication of the issues raised in the Complaint. Certain Light-Emitting Diode Products, Systems, and Components...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed an International Trade Commission (ITC) decision not to institute an investigation where the underlying statutory scheme precluded a private right of action. Amarin...more