A recent opinion by the Commission highlights the risk for defaulting at the ITC. The Commission reversed the ALJ’s finding of a violation as to the participating respondents but maintained that the defaulting respondent was...more
In a recent Commission opinion, the ITC reviewed and affirmed ALJ Bullock’s Initial Determination (ID), and issued a general exclusion order (“GEO”). Certain Self-Anchoring Beverage Containers, Inv. 337-TA-1092, Comm’n Op....more
In a recent opinion, the ITC found that four defaulting respondents violated section 337 and that a general exclusion order (GEO) was the appropriate remedy for unlicensed products. Certain LED Lighting Devices and Components...more
In a recent order, the ITC denied a motion to stay after ALJ Bullock found that the balance of the Semiconductor Chips factors weighed against granting the motion. See In re Certain Memory Modules And Components Thereof, Inv....more
In a recent decision, the ITC rejected respondent’s argument that complainant did not meet its domestic industry (“DI”) requirements because of declining investments over the years leading up to the Complaint. In re Certain...more
In re Certain Color Intraoral Scanners & Related Software, Inv. No. 337-TA-1091, Order 34 (ITC Sept. 6, 2018) presents an interesting factual scenario. The schedule adopted by the ALJ had the Commission issuing a final...more
The ITC permits a domestic industry to be based on any claim of an asserted patent even if the claim defines an article that is different from the investigated article of commerce. In a recent order, ALJ Cheney reiterated...more
The ITC recently modified a previously issued remedial order such that certain of the Respondents’ redesigned products were not covered by the limited exclusion order (LEO) or the cease and desist order (CDO). Certain Network...more
7/16/2018
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Exclusion Orders ,
Final Written Decisions ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent Validity ,
Patents ,
Redesigned Products
Normally, it is the FDA that monitors the improper distribution of drugs. But, as it turns out, the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) might be able to enter the fray too. On April 18, 2018, the ITC issued a notice...more
5/18/2018
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Drug Distribution ,
FDA Approval ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Generic Drugs ,
Imports ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Unfair Competition
In a recent Initial Determination (“ID”), Administrative Law Judge Lord ruled that a patent owner did not have standing to sue without joining a third party to which certain rights had been transferred. Certain Audio...more
Complainants often must rely on indirect infringement to prove a violation of Section 337. Indirect infringement may be in the form of induced or contributory infringement. In a recent opinion, the Commission clarified issues...more
1/11/2018
/ Comcast ,
Direct Infringement ,
Discovery ,
Imports ,
Induced Infringement ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patents ,
Section 337 ,
Software Patents ,
Suprema
We recently posted about when a complainant is permitted to amend its complaint and the good cause that must be shown. Similar issues arise where a respondent wants to amend an answer without showing good cause. An order...more
In a recent order, Administrative Law Judge McNamara denied Complainants Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and ATI Technologies ULC’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint to assert U.S. Patent Nos. 8,760,454 and 9,582,846...more
The ITC issued an Opinion finding a violation of Section 337 and issuing a general exclusion order and cease and desist orders. Of note, the Commission clarified that the “domestic industry” for unregistered trade dress need...more
11/28/2017
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Domestic Industry Requirement ,
Exclusion Orders ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patents ,
Section 337 ,
Trade Dress ,
Trade Secrets ,
Trademark Infringement ,
Unfair Competition ,
USPTO
This week the ITC stood firm in its position that final PTAB rulings of unpatentability in IPR proceedings are not grounds to modify, suspend, or rescind remedial orders. In Certain Foam Footwear, Inv. No. 337-TA-567, the ITC...more
10/26/2017
/ Appeals ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Defense Strategies ,
Exclusion Orders ,
Final Written Decisions ,
Inter Partes Reexamination ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Remedial Actions ,
Section 337 ,
USPTO
In a recent Notice, the Commission denied Respondents’ motion to modify the administrative protective order (APO) to permit them to use a third party’s confidential business information in related European proceedings....more
In a recent Initial Determination, Administrative Law Judge Shaw concluded that the Complainant’s reliance on marketing and instructional materials was not sufficient to prove inducement of infringement of a claimed method....more
The Commission issued an Opinion finding a violation of Section 337 in Certain Air Mattress Systems, Components Thereof, and Methods of Using Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-971. Of note, the Commission reversed a part of ALJ Bullock’s...more
A recent ITC decision, stemming from a default initial determination, underscores the importance of alleging every element in a complaint. 19 U.S.C. § 1337(g)(l) provides that the Commission, when making a determination on...more
7/7/2017
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Copyright ,
Copyright Infringement ,
Damages ,
Default ,
Federal Pleading Requirements ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Lanham Act ,
Misappropriation ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patents ,
Remedies ,
Section 337 ,
Trade Dress ,
Trademark Infringement ,
Trademarks
In recent years, carmakers and suppliers have significantly increased the number of patent applications they file in the United States and abroad, but patent protection may not always be the right tool. Trade secret...more
5/3/2017
/ Automotive Industry ,
Connected Cars ,
Driverless Cars ,
Innovation ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patents ,
Popular ,
Software ,
Wireless Technology
We previously wrote about the uphill battle Respondent Eko Brands faced in an enforcement proceeding after it defaulted in the underlying investigation. The ALJ found during the proceedings that res judicata barred its...more
5/1/2017
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Affirmative Defenses ,
Declaratory Judgments ,
Default ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Lack of Authority ,
Noninfringement ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patents ,
Remedial Actions ,
Res Judicata ,
Rescission ,
Section 337
On April 3, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice in Certain Semiconductor Devices, Semiconductor Device Packages, and Products Containing the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-1010 determining not to review Judge Lord’s finding of no...more
As we have previously reported here, 2016 was a banner year for Section 337 proceedings at the ITC. Sixty new Section 337 related complaints were filed at the ITC—a 50% increase over the previous year. 2016’s tally exceeds...more