January 17, 2014
News Release 14-006
Inv. No. 337-TA-905
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC INSTITUTES SECTION 337 INVESTIGATION
OF CERTAIN WIRELESS DEVICES, INCLUDING MOBILE PHONES AND TABLETS II
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain wireless devices, including mobile phones and tablets. The products at issue in this investigation are mobile phones and tablets.
The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Pragmatus Mobile, LLC, of Alexandria, VA, on December 18, 2013. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain wireless devices, including mobile phones and tablets that infringe patents asserted by Pragmatus. The complainant requests that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:
Nokia Corporation (Nokia Oyj) of Espoo, Finland;
Nokia, Inc. of Sunnyvale, CA;
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. of Seoul, Republic of Korea;
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. of Ridgefield Park, NJ;
Samsung Telecommunications America, L.L.C. of Richardson, TX;
Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan;
Sony Mobile Communications AB of Lund, Sweden;
Sony Mobile Communications (USA), Inc. of Atlanta, GA;
ZTE Corporation of Guangdong, China; and
ZTE (USA) Inc. of Richardson, TX.
By instituting this investigation (337-TA-905), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.
The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.