For decades, the ITC’s jurisdictional requirement – known as the domestic industry requirement – effectively shut out innovators from availing themselves of the powerful remedies of the forum, in the form of an exclusion...more
3/7/2025
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Appeals ,
Appellate Courts ,
Design Patent ,
En Banc Review ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Intellectual Property Litigation ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patents ,
Section 337
To be a successful trade secret litigant at the ITC, it is critical to be mindful of unique substantive and procedural aspects of Section 337 litigation. These differences offer both promise and peril for complainants. ...more
Opponents of the use of Section 337 by Standard Essential Patent (SEP) holders claim that the threat of ITC exclusion orders lends itself to patent hold-up. These opponents, however, can point to no instance in which an ITC...more
In a recent IAM article, Levelling the playing field in ITC patent cases by identifying redesigns to a set deadline, we commented on best practices for ITC complainants to protect their interests against the nascent uptick of...more
When licensing discussions with an intransigent implementer break down, SEP owners face a difficult question: what remedies are available (injunctive relief or damages) in each U.S. court (International Trade Commission and...more
12/24/2019
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FRAND ,
Injunctive Relief ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Joint Policy Statements ,
NIST ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patents ,
Section 337 ,
Standard Essential Patents ,
USPTO ,
USTR
In a recent decision clarifying the legal standards of the International Trade Commission’s domestic industry requirement, the Commission has upheld, with modified reasoning, Chief Administrative Law Judge Bullock’s initial...more
11/11/2019
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Domestic Industry Requirement ,
Initial Determination (ID) ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Multinationals ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patents ,
Section 337 ,
Threshold Requirements
Litigation involving standard-essential patents (“SEPs”) is on the rise. The now longstanding and disturbing impact of efficient infringement by recalcitrant implementers is the predominant cause of the increase. As many...more
Recently, Chief Administrative Law Judge (“CALJ”) Bullock of the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”), in Certain Carburetors and Products Containing Such Carburetors, Inv. No. 337-TA-1123, Order No. 77, suggested that...more
On March 26, 2019, the International Trade Commission issued its Final Determination in Certain Mobile Electronic Devices and Radio Frequency and Process Components Thereof, 337-TA-1065. The 1065 Investigation is one of...more
As we mentioned in December, the International Trade Commission issued a notice to review the Final Initial Determination and Recommended Determination issued by Administrative Law Judge Pender in Certain Mobile Electronic...more
3/14/2019
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Apple ,
Competition ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Exclusion Orders ,
Initial Determination (ID) ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Manufacturers ,
Monopolization ,
Patent Infringement ,
Public Interest ,
Qualcomm ,
Semiconductors
There is a common misconception the domestic industry economic prong requirement is insurmountable and an unknowable factor in a patent infringement action at the International Trade Commission (“ITC” or “Commission”),...more
As anticipated, on December 12, 2018, the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) issued a notice to review the Final Initial Determination and Recommended Determination (“FID”) issued by Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”)...more
12/17/2018
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Apple ,
Competition ,
Exclusion Orders ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Imports ,
Infringement ,
Initial Determination (ID) ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Manufacturers ,
Monopolization ,
Patent Infringement ,
Qualcomm ,
Semiconductors
A recent decision by the International Trade Commission (“ITC” or the “Commission”) held that pre-commercial or non-commercial items qualify as “articles” for purposes of section 337 investigations. The decision opens up the...more
A recent decision by the International Trade Commission (“ITC” or the “Commission”) improves a patent owner’s ability to demonstrate that it possesses a statutorily required “domestic industry” and can therefore obtain relief...more
Speed is almost always of the essence for the victim of trade secret misappropriation. Many companies ground their business in proprietary information that, if made public, would make the exclusive product or service those...more
1/31/2018
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) ,
Estoppel ,
Expedited Discovery ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Jurisdiction ,
Misappropriation ,
Patents ,
Section 337 ,
Trade Secrets ,
UTSA
The public version of ALJ Shaw’s Initial Determination (ID) in U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation Certain Magnetic Data Storage Tapes and Cartridges Containing the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-1012 (1012...more
10/7/2017
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Breach of Contract ,
Burden of Proof ,
Forum Selection ,
FRAND ,
Injunctive Relief ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
IP License ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patents ,
Sony ,
Standard Essential Patents ,
Standard Setting Organizations ,
Waivers
Trade secret theft is a growing threat to American businesses. One obstacle to addressing misappropriation through a lawsuit can be a lack of direct evidence of theft. For example, if an employee leaves his company to work...more
On October 19, 2016, the ITC instituted Investigation No. 1025, based on a complaint filed on May 26, 2016, by Silicon Genesis Corporation (SiGen), against Soitec, S.A. (Soitec). As part of the institution, the ITC ordered...more
Several months ago, we were struck with the question of whether, as counsel for a patent owner at the ITC, our clients’ case would benefit from a Markman hearing. Claim construction during an ITC investigation was routinely...more
Administrative Law Judge Essex recently issued the public version of his Initial Determination on Remand in International Trade Commission investigation No. 337-TA-613, In the Matter of Certain 3G Mobile Handsets and...more
6/13/2015
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Burden of Proof ,
Determination on Remand ,
FRAND ,
Injunctive Relief ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
IP License ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Royalties ,
Patents ,
SSO ,
Standard Essential Patents ,
Wireless Devices