On January 13, 2011, the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a press release announcing that it voted to institute an investigation of Certain Reduced Ignition Proclivity Cigarette Paper Wrappers and Products Containing Same (Inv. No. 337-TA-756).

The investigation is based on a December 17, 2010 complaint, and supplemental filings by Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. of Alpharetta, Georgia, alleging violation of Section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain reduced ignition proclivity cigarette paper wrappers and products containing same by reason of infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,725,867 and 5,878,753.  See our December 20, 2010 post for more details.

According to the Notice of Investigation, the ITC has identified Astra Tobacco Corporation of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; delfortgroup AG of Austria; LIPtec GMBH of Germany; and Julius Glatz GmbH of Germany as respondents in this investigation.

In addition, Lisa Murray of the Office of Unfair Import Investigations is identified in the Notice of Investigation as the Investigative Attorney assigned to handle this investigation.

Lastly, the ITC indicated that E. James Gildea will be the presiding Administrative Law Judge in this investigation.