On April 16, 2009, ALJ Theodore R. Essex issued Order No. 30: Initial Determination Terminating Investigation On The Basis Of Settlement Agreement in Certain Automotive Parts (337-TA-651).

According to the Order, on April 3, 2009, complainant Ford Global Technologies, LLC (“Ford”) and respondents LKQ Corporation, Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc., Jui Li Enterprise Co., Y.C.C. Parts Manufacturing Co., Ltd., TYC Brother Industrial Co. Ltd., Taiwan Kai Yih Industrial Co., Ltd., and T.Y.G. Products, L.P. (“Respondents”) filed a joint motion to terminate the investigation on the basis of a settlement agreement.  The Commission Investigative Staff filed a response in support of the motion.

ALJ Essex granted the joint motion and determined that the “settlement agreement appears to resolve the dispute between Ford and Respondents.”  According to the public version of the settlement agreement, the dispute between the private parties in this investigation involved Ford’s allegations that Respondents infringed certain design patents relating to aftermarket collision parts for the 2005-series Ford Mustang vehicle.