[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27295-27296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12602]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Inv. No. 337-TA-392]


Certain Digital Satellite System (DSS) Receivers and Components 
Thereof; Notice of Commission Decision To Terminate the Investigation 
and To Vacate Portions of Initial Determination

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade 
Commission has determined to grant complainant's motion to terminate 
the investigation, to grant complainant's motion to vacate the final 
initial determination (ID) of the presiding administrative law judge 
(ALJ) on the issues of invalidity for anticipation and for lack of 
enablement, and to deny the motion to vacate in all other respects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John A. Wasleff, Esq., Office of the 
General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone 202-
205-3094. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this 
matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 
202-205-1810. General information concerning the Commission may also be 
obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This investigation was instituted on 
December 18, 1996, based on a complaint filed by Personalized Media 
Communications, LLC (PMC). 61 FR 66695-96. The respondents are 
DirectTV, Inc., United Satellite Broadcasting Co., Hughes Network 
Systems, Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc., Thomson Consumer 
Electronics, Inc., Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., and 
Matsushita Electric Corporation of America. The complaint alleges, 
inter alia, that respondents engaged in unlawful activities in 
violation of section 337 through the unlicensed importation and sale of 
goods infringing claim 1-7 of U.S. Letters Patent 5,335,277.

    On October 20, 1997, the presiding ALJ issued a final ID in which 
he concluded that the asserted claims were invalid as indefinite under 
35 U.S.C. 112 para.2, that the asserted claims were invalid as not 
enabled under 35 U.S.C. 112 para.1, that claim 7 is invalid as 
anticipated under 35 U.S.C. 102, and that no asserted claim was 
infringed. The Commission adopted the ALJ's claim constructions, his 
finding of invalidity for indefiniteness, and his finding of no 
infringement, but took no position on the other invalidity findings.

    The Commission's determination was appealed to the U.S. Court of 
Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and on November 24, 1998, the Federal 
Circuit issued its opinion on appeal. The Court's mandate issued on 
February 26, 1999. The Court upheld the Commission as to three of the 
four claims at issue on appeal. The Court reversed the Commission with 
respect to its

[[Page 27296]]

determination that claim 7 of U.S. Letters Patent 5,335,277 is invalid 
for indefiniteness. The Court also vacated the Commission's 
determination that claim 7 is not infringed by the accused devices and 
remanded for further consideration by the Commission.

    On March 26, 1999, complainant PMC filed a motion to terminate the 
investigation and vacate the ID. On April 5, 1999, several respondents 
filed a brief in opposition, in which the balance of the respondents 
joined. The Commission's Office of Unfair Import Investigations filed a 
response on April 7, 1999.

    The Commission determined to grant the complainant's motion to 
terminate the investigation. The Commission further determined to grant 
complainant's motion to vacate the ID, but only with respect to the 
findings of invalidity for anticipation and lack of enablement, as to 
which findings the Commission took no position. The Commission 
determined to deny the motion to vacate in all other respects.

    This action is taken under the authority of the Administrative 
Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 500 et. seq.), section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337), and section 210.41 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (19 CFR. 210.41).

    Copies of the Commission's order and all other nonconfidential 
documents filed in connection with this investigation are or will be 
available for inspection during official business hours (8:45 a.m. to 
5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone 202-205-
2000.

    Issued: May 13, 1999.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-12602 Filed 5-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P