On July 24, 2017, ALJ Theodore R. Essex issued Order No. 7 in Certain Magnetic Tape Cartridges and Components Thereof (Inv. No. 337-TA-1058).

By way of background, this investigation is based on an April 28, 2017 complaint filed by Sony Corp., Sony Storage Media Solutions Corp., Sony Storage Media Manufacturing Corp., Sony DADC US Inc., and Sony Latin America Inc. alleging violation of Section 337 by way of unlawful importation into the U.S., selling for importation, and/or selling within the U.S. after importation of certain magnetic tape cartridges and components thereof that infringe one or more claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,674,596; 6,979,501; and 7,029,774. See our May 4, 2017 and May 26, 2017 posts for more details on the complaint and Notice of Investigation, respectively.

According to Order No. 7, ALJ Essex set the procedural schedule for the investigation. Specifically, ALJ Essex determined, inter alia, that the evidentiary hearing in this investigation will take place on February 22-26, 2018; any final initial determination should be filed no later than May 25, 2018; and the target date for completing the investigation is September 25, 2018.