ITC Begins Section 337 Investigation on Headphones
The International Trade Commission began a Section 337 investigation on allegations that 22 Chinese companies are importing and selling open-ear earpiece devices that infringe patents held by Bose (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1470), it said in a notice published Dec. 23.
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The complaint was filed in September and seeks a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against the respondents to bar from entry "certain open-ear earpiece devices (also known as open-ear headphones or open earbuds)" that violate the complainants' patents (see 2509250013).
Bose said in the complaint that its products are "open-ear earbuds which, unlike traditional in-ear or over-ear headphones, do not block the ear canal, allowing users to hear both their audio and ambient sounds simultaneously."