On February 26, 2009, ALJ Theodore R. Essex issued his initial determination in the matter of Certain Refrigerators and Components Thereof (Inv. No. 337-TA-632).  The initial determination was issued as a confidential document and a public version is not yet available.

However, according to published reports, LG Electronics announced on Friday that the initial determination (ID) was in its favor and ALJ Essex ruled that LG refrigerators are not covered by Whirlpool’s patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,082,130) for ice storage bins located in refrigerator doors.

We will provide additional information regarding this ID once the public version issues.