[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27535-27536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12478]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Inv. No. 337-TA-456]


In the Matter of Certain Gel-Filled Wrist Rests and Products 
Containing Same; Notice of Investigation

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1337.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the 
U.S. International Trade Commission on April 9, 2001, under section 337 
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of 3M 
Innovative Properties Company and Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing 
Company, both of St. Paul, Minnesota. Supplements to the complaint were 
filed on April 27 and May 1, 2001. The complaint, as supplemented, 
alleges violations of section 337 in the importation into the United 
States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States 
after importation of certain gel-filled wrist rests and products 
containing same by reason of infringement of claims 1, 3, 6, 7, and 8 
of U.S. Letters Patent 5,713,544. The complaint further alleges that an 
industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) 
of section 337.
    The complainants request that the Commission institute an 
investigation and, after the investigation, issue a permanent exclusion 
order and permanent cease and desist orders.

ADDRESSES: The complaint and supplements, except for any confidential 
information contained therein, are 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., Room 
112, Washington, DC 20436, telephone 202-205-2000. Hearing impaired 
individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained 
by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. Persons 
with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining 
access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 
202-205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be 
obtained by accessing its internet server at http://www.usitc.gov. The 
public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's 
electronic docket (EDIS-ON-LINE) at http://dockets.usitc.gov/eol/public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey R. Whieldon, Esq., Office of 
Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 
telephone 202-205-2580.

    Authority: The authority for institution of this investigation 
is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 
and in section 210.10 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2000).

SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. 
International Trade Commission, on May 8, 2001, ORDERED THAT--
    (1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended, an investigation be instituted to determine whether 
there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337 in the 
importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or the 
sale within the United States after importation of certain gel-filled 
wrist rests and products containing same by reason of infringement of 
claims 1, 3, 6, 7, or 8 of U.S. Letters Patent 5,713,544, and whether 
an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection 
(a)(2) of section 337.
    (2) For the purpose of the investigation so instituted, the 
following are hereby named as parties upon which this notice of 
investigation shall be served:
    (a) The complainants are--

3M Innovative Properties Company, 3M Center, 2501 Hudson Road, St. 
Paul, Minnesota 55144.
Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, 3M Center, 2501 Hudson Road, 
St. Paul, Minnesota 55144.

    (b) The respondents are the following companies alleged to be in 
violation of section 337, and are the parties upon which the complaint 
is to be served:

Velo Enterprise Co., Ltd., 1012 Chung Shan Road, Sec. 1, Taichia 
ChenTaichung Hsien 43742, Taiwan
Aidma Enterprise Co. Ltd. 19 Floor 3, 79 Hsin Tai 5th Road, Section 1, 
Hsi Chih City, Taipai County, Taiwan
Good Raise Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., 1st Floor, 10 Alley 12 Lane 
118, Sung Chu Road, Pei Tun District, Taichung City, Taiwan
ACCO Brands, Inc., 300 Tower Parkway, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069,
Curtis Computer Products Inc., 441 Eastbay Boulevard, Provo, Utah 84606
Alsop, Inc., 4201 Meridian Street, Bellingham, Washington 98226
American Covers Inc., 102 W. 12200, Draper, Utah 84020
Gemini Industries, Inc., 215 Entin Road, Clifton, New Jersey 07014

    (c) Jeffrey R. Whieldon, Esq., Office of Unfair Import 
Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., 
Room 401, Washington, DC 20436, who shall be the Commission 
investigative attorney, party to this investigation; and
    (3) For the investigation so instituted, the Honorable Sidney 
Harris is designated as the presiding administrative law judge.
    Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be 
submitted by the named respondents in accordance with section 210.13 of 
the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.13. 
Pursuant to 19 CFR 201.16(d) and 210.13(a), such responses will be 
considered by the Commission if received no later than 20 days after 
the date of service by the Commission of the complaint and the notice 
of investigation. Extensions of time for submitting responses to the 
complaint will not be granted unless good cause therefor is shown.
    Failure of a respondent to file a timely response to each 
allegation in the complaint and in this notice may be deemed to 
constitute a waiver of the right to appear and contest the allegations 
of the complaint and to authorize the administrative law judge and the 
Commission, without further notice to that respondent, to find the 
facts to be as alleged in the complaint and this notice and to enter 
both an

[[Page 27536]]

initial determination and a final determination containing such 
findings, and may result in the issuance of a limited exclusion order 
or a cease and desist order or both directed against that respondent.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: May 9, 2001.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-12478 Filed 5-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P