On March 29, 2010, the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a press release announcing that it voted to institute an investigation of Certain Stringed Musical Instruments and Components Thereof (Inv. No. 337-TA-708).

The investigation is based on a February 26, 2010 complaint and March 18, 2010 letter supplementing the complaint filed by Geoffrey McCabe, of Hollywood, California alleging violation of Section 337 in the importation into the U.S. and sale of certain stringed musical instruments and components thereof, which allegedly infringe Mr. McCabe’s U.S. Patent Nos. 5,965,831, 7,470,841, 6,175,066, 6,891,094, and 5,986,191.  See our March 3, 2010 post for more details.

According to the Notice of Investigation, the Commission has identified the following entities as the respondents in this investigation:

• Floyd Rose Guitars of Redmond, Washington


• Floyd Rose Marketing, Inc. of Neptune, New Jersey


• Davitt & Hanser Music Co., d/b/a HHI of Hebron, Kentucky


• Ping Well Industrial Co., Ltd. of Taiwan


• Ibanez, Inc. (Hoshino) US of Bensalem, Pennsylvania


• Ibanez, Inc. (Hoshino) Japan of Japan

Further, Jeffrey T. Hsu of the Office of Unfair Import Investigations is identified on the Notice of Investigation as the Investigative Attorney assigned to handle this investigation.

Lastly, Chief ALJ Paul J. Luckern issued a notice indicating that he will be the presiding Administrative Law Judge in this investigation.