Radiodetection Files New 337 Complaint Regarding Certain Underground Cable And Pipe Locators
On June 10, 2010, Radiodetection, Ltd. of the United Kingdom (“Radiodetection”) filed a complaint requesting that the ITC commence an investigation pursuant to Section 337.
The complaint alleges that Vivax-Metrotech Corp. of Santa Clara, California, SebaKMT of Germany, and Leidi Utility Supply Ltd. of China (collectively, the “Proposed Respondents”) unlawfully import into the U.S., sell for importation, and sell within the U.S. after importation certain underground cable and pipe locators that infringe Radiodetection’s U.S. Patent No. 6,268,731 (the ‘731 patent).
According to the complaint, the ‘731 patent generally relates to a device for locating an electrically conductive object. In particular, the patent is directed to a method and apparatus for measuring the position and orientation of a buried underground object such as a cable or pipe using the electromagnetic field generated by a current in the object.
In the complaint, Radiodetection alleges that the Proposed Respondents import and sell handheld cable and pipe locators under the designation “vLocPro,” and that the vLocPro directly infringes and/or induces infringement of various claims of the ‘731 patent.
Regarding domestic industry, Radiodetection states that its “RD8000” product is representative of its line of locator products that practice the claims of the ‘731 patent in the U.S. According to the complaint, Radiodetection maintains distribution and repair facilities in Illinois and Maine and employs a significant number of personnel at those facilities. Additionally, Radiodetection states that it expends substantial resources on marketing in the U.S. and that it has participated in numerous trade shows and conferences in the U.S.
As to related litigation, Radiodetection states that “[o]n the date of this Complaint, or immediately thereafter, Radiodetection will be filing an action against all [Proposed] Respondents identified herein, alleging infringement of at least the ‘731 patent in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.”
With respect to potential remedy, Radiodetection requests that the Commission issue a permanent exclusion order and a permanent cease-and-desist order directed at the Proposed Respondents.
