On February 22, 2012, the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a press release announcing their vote to institute an investigation of Certain Dimmable Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Products Containing Same (Inv. No. 337-TA-830).

The investigation is based on a January 23, 2012 complaint filed by Neptun Light, Inc. and Andrzej Bobel of Lake Forest, Illinois alleging violation of Section 337 in the importation into the U.S. and sale of certain dimmable compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and products containing same that infringe one or more claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,434,480 and 8,035,318.  See our January 26, 2012 post for more details.

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

• SK America, Inc. d/b/a/ Maxlite of Fairfield, New Jersey


• U Lighting America Inc. of San Jose, California


• Golden U Lighting Manufacturing (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. of China


• Feit Electric Company, Inc. of Pico Rivera, California


• General Electric Company of Fairfield, Connecticut


• Xiamen Topstar Lighting Co. Ltd. of China


• Technical Consumer Products, Inc. of Aurora, Ohio


• TCP China of China


• TCP (Shanghai) Tiancanbao Lighting Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd. of China


• Shanghai Jensing Electron Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd. of China


• Shanghai Qiangling Electronics Co. Ltd. of China


• Zhejiang Qiang Ling Electronic Co. Ltd. of China

In addition, we understand that the Office of Unfair Import Investigations will not participate as a party in this investigation.

Lastly, Chief ALJ Charles E. Bullock issued a notice indicating that Thomas B. Pender will be the presiding Administrative Law Judge in this investigation.