On October 20, 2009, the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a press release announcing that it voted to institute an investigation of Certain Printing and Imaging Devices and Components Thereof (Inv. No. 337-TA-690).

According to the Notice of Investigation, the investigation is based on a September 18, 2009 complaint and October 9, 2009 letters supplementing the complaint filed by Ricoh Company, Ltd. of Japan, Ricoh Americas Corporation of West Caldwell, New Jersey, and Ricoh Electronics, Inc. of Tustin, California.  The complaint alleges violation of Section 337 in the importation into the U.S., the sale for importation, and the sale within the U.S. after importation of certain printing and imaging devices, including multifunction printers, and components thereof, including at least image drums and fuser units, which allegedly infringe U.S. Patent Nos. 5,764,866; 6,388,771; 6,209,048; 6,212,343; and 5,863,690.  See our September 21 post for more details.


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By Eric Schweibenz
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Oct
19
On October 15, 2009, ALJ Theodore R. Essex issued Order No. 7: Setting Procedural Schedules in Certain MLC Flash Memory Devices and Products Containing Same (Inv. No. 337-TA-683).

In the Order, ALJ Essex set the procedural schedule for the investigation.  He included a provision for the early exchange of claim construction terms and proposed constructions, and scheduled the evidentiary hearing to begin on March 22, 2010.


By Eric Schweibenz
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Oct
19
On October 16, 2009, the International Trade Commission issued a notice stating that it had determined to review and based on that review, affirm Chief ALJ Paul J. Luckern’s August 14, 2009 Final Initial and Recommended Determinations (“ID”) in Certain 3G Mobile Handsets and Components (Inv. No. 337-TA-613).

By way of background, and as explained in our August 17 and September 23 posts, the Complainants in this investigation are InterDigital Communications, LLC and InterDigital Technology Corp. (“InterDigital”) and the Respondents are Nokia Inc. and Nokia Corp. (“Nokia”).  In the ID, ALJ Luckern held that no violation of Section 337 had occurred in connection with the importation into the U.S., the sale for importation, or the sale within the U.S. after importation of certain 3G mobile handsets and components.  Specifically, ALJ Luckern determined that the asserted claims of the ‘004, ‘966, ‘847, and ‘579 patents were not infringed.  He also found that the claims were not invalid and that a domestic industry exists with respect to the asserted patents.


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By Eric Schweibenz
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Oct
19
On October 15, 2009, the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a press release announcing that it voted to institute an investigation of Certain Dual Access Locks and Products Containing Same (Inv. No. 337-TA-689).

According to the Notice of Investigation, the investigation is based on a September 15, 2009 complaint and October 5, 2009 amended complaint filed by Safe Skies, LLC of Brooklyn, New York and David Tropp of Brooklyn, New York (collectively, “Safe Skies”).  The amended complaint alleges violations of Section 337 in the importation into the U.S., the sale for importation, and the sale within the U.S. after importation of certain dual access locks and products containing same, which allegedly infringe U.S. Patent Nos. 7,021,537 and 7,036,728.


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By Eric Schweibenz
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Oct
19
On October 16, 2009, ALJ Carl C. Charneski issued a notice regarding the Initial Determination  (“ID”) in Certain Cast Steel Railway Wheels, Certain Processes For Manufacturing Or Relating To Same And Certain Products Containing Same (Inv. No. 337-TA-655).

By way of background, the Complainant in this investigation is Amsted Industries Inc. and the Respondents are Standard Car Truck Co., Inc., Barber Tianrui Railway Supply, LLC, Tianrui Group Company Limited, and Tianrui Group Foundry Company Limited (collectively, “Respondents”).


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