Convertible Sofas. The International Trade Commission received June 7 on behalf of Sauder Manufacturing Company a petition requesting that it institute a Section 337 investigation regarding convertible sofas and components thereof. The proposed respondent is located in Canada.
Section 337 investigations primarily involve claims regarding intellectual property rights violations by imported goods, including the infringement of patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Other forms of unfair competition involving imported products, such as misappropriation of trade secrets or trade dress and false advertising, may also be asserted.
The ITC is requesting comments no later than June 21 on any public interest issues raised by this complaint. Comments should address whether the issuance of the limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders requested by the complainant would affect the public health and welfare in the U.S., competitive conditions in the U.S. economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the U.S., or U.S. consumers. In particular, the ITC is interested in comments that:
– explain how the articles potentially subject to the orders are used in the U.S.;
– identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns in the U.S. relating to the potential orders;
– identify like or directly competitive articles that the complainant, its licensees, or third parties make in the U.S. that could replace the subject articles if they were to be excluded;
– indicate whether the complainant, its licensees, and/or third-party suppliers have the capacity to replace the volume of articles potentially subject to the requested orders within a commercially reasonable time; and
– explain how the requested orders would impact U.S. consumers.
Data Storage Tapes. In patent infringement investigation 337-TA-1012 of magnetic data storage tapes and cartridges containing the same, the ITC has instituted a formal enforcement proceeding to determine whether a previously-issued cease and desist order was violated and, if so, what enforcement measures are appropriate.