Since the failure of the Totes-Isotoner case on the unconstitutionality of different U.S. tariff rates for men’s and “other” gloves and pending the outcome of a new “test case,” over 120 apparel importers have filed their own suits at the Court of International Trade to challenge the constitutionality of different, gender-based tariff rates for apparel and footwear products.
On August 25, 2011, Gibson Guitar Corp. issued a press release to announce that the Justice Department has raided and temporarily shut down two Gibson facilities in the Department's enforcement of the Lacey Act Amendments. According to Gibson, the Justice Department has suggested that Gibson's use of wood from India that is not finished by Indian workers is illegal.
The International Trade Commission has voted to institute a section 337 patent-based investigation of certain wireless devices with 3G capabilities and components thereof (337-TA-800), which are used in cellular systems. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by InterDigital Communications, LLC of King of Prussia, PA; InterDigital Technology Corporation of Wilmington, DE; and IPR Licensing, Inc., of Wilmington, DE. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the U.S. and sale of these products. The ITC has identified the following six respondents: (1) Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. of China; (2) FutureWei Technologies, Inc., d/b/a Huawei Technologies (USA), of Plano, TX; (3) Nokia Corporation of Finland; (4) Nokia Inc. of White Plains, NY; (5) ZTE Corporation of China; and (6) ZTE (USA) Inc. of Richardson, TX.
The International Trade Commission has voted to institute a section 337 patent-based investigation of certain light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and products containing same (337-TA-802), such as gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor light-emitting diodes that convert electrical current to light. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by LG Electronics, Inc. and LG Innotek Co., Ltd. of South Korea, which alleges patent violations by OSRAM GmbH of Germany; OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH of Germany; and OSRAM Sylvania, Inc. of Danvers, MA.
The International Trade Commission has voted to institute a section 337 patent-based investigation on certain products containing interactive program guide and parental controls technology (337-TA-801). The products at issue in this investigation include LCD televisions and Blu-Ray players containing IPG technology that enables the products to provide television program information and/or video-on-demand functionality, as well as parental control technology. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Rovi Corporation; Rovi Guides, Inc. (f/k/a Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.); United Video Properties, Inc.; and Gemstar Development Corporation, all of Santa Clara, CA. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the U.S. and sale of these products. Sharp Corporation of Japan; Sharp Electronics Corporation of Mahwah, NJ; and Sharp Electronics Manufacturing Company of America, Inc., of Mahwah, NJ. are listed by the ITC as respondents.
The International Trade Commission voted on August 24, 2011 to institute a section 337 patent-based investigation of computer forensic devices and products containing the same (337-TA-799), such as corporate information security hardware and software. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by MyKey Technology Inc. of Gaithersburg, MD. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the U.S. and sale of these products, and requests that the ITC issue an exclusion order and a cease and desist order.
Small and mid-sized wireless carriers, cable operators and competitive local exchange carriers all criticized parts of the America’s Broadband Connectivity (ABC) plan for making major changes to the Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation regimes. The plan, a compromise among major telecom carriers and rural local exchange carriers, is unlikely to be approved without some changes, said industry and FCC officials. The trick for the FCC will be keeping ILECs on board while accommodating other interests (CD Aug 25 p1). The FCC also asked for comment on a “complementary” filing by rural carriers as well as proposals by the Federal-State Joint Board on USF, also discussed in many of the comments.
Microsoft’s patent infringement case against Motorola Mobility got off to a slow start Monday, the first day of a hearing that’s likely to continue the rest of the month at the International Trade Commission (ITC). The case is the latest chapter in the heated patent battle among industry giants in the Internet and mobile device sectors. Looming over the case is Google’s recent announcement it will buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion (WID Aug 16 p1).
The July 2011 edition of the Justice Department’s U.S. Attorney’s Bulletin includes an article on efforts to enforce the 2008 Lacey Act Amendments, such as the declaration requirement (PPQ 505) for imported plants and plant products. The article provides examples of enforcement efforts to date in cases involving forfeiture, false labeling, and trafficking, but states that so far, Lacy Act Amendments enforcement has been slow and minimal.
Microsoft’s patent infringement case against Motorola Mobility got off to a slow start on the first day of its hearing at the International Trade Commission (ITC) Monday. The case is the latest chapter in the heated patent battle among industry giants in the Internet and mobile device sectors. Looming over the case is Google’s recent announcement it will buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion.