[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 213 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68207-68208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28488]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-720]


Certain Silicon Microphone Packages and Products Containing the 
Same; Determination To Rescind in Part the Limited Exclusion Order 
Entered on June 12, 2009

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 rescind in part the exclusion order 
entered on June 12, 2009 against respondent MEMS Technology Berhad 
(``MemsTech'') in the subject investigation to remove references to 
claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 6,781,231 (``the `231 patent'') and claims 
1, 2, 17, and 20 of U.S. Patent No. 7,242,089 (``the `089 patent'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clark S. Cheney, Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-2661. Copies of non-
confidential 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. General information concerning the Commission 
may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed 
on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov. 
Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter 
can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 
205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission instituted this investigation 
on January 14, 2008, based on a complaint filed by Knowles Electronics 
LLC (``Knowles''). 73 FR 2277 (Jan. 14, 2008). The complaint, as 
supplemented, alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337) in the importation into the United States, the 
sale for importation, or the sale within the United States after 
importation of certain silicon microphone packages and products 
containing the same that infringe claims 1 and 2 of the `231 patent and 
claims 1, 2, 9, 10, 15, 17, 20, 28, and 29 of the `089 patent. The 
complaint named MemsTech as the respondent.

[[Page 68208]]

    On June 12, 2009, the Commission issued a limited exclusion order 
(``the June 12, 2009 exclusion order'') prohibiting the unlicensed 
entry into the United States of MemsTech silicon microphone packages 
that infringe claims 1 and 2 of the `231 patent and claims 1, 2, 9, 10, 
15, 17, 20, 28, and 29 of the `089 patent. 74 FR 28724 (June 17, 2009). 
On October 13, 2009, MemsTech appealed the Commission's determination 
to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. On June 3, 2011, 
the Federal Circuit affirmed the Commission's final determination. MEMS 
Technology Berhad v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, No. 2010-1018, 2011 WL 2214091 
(Fed. Cir. June 3, 2011) (unpublished).
    On December 16, 2009, the Commission instituted Certain Silicon 
Microphone Packages and Products Containing the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-
695, in response to a different complaint filed by Knowles. 74 FR 68077 
(Dec. 22, 2009). The complaint in Inv. No. 337-TA-695 alleged a 
violation of section 337 based on infringement of claim 1 of the '231 
patent and claims 1, 2, 7, 16, 17, 18, and 20 of the '089 patent. The 
complaint named Analog Devices Inc. as the respondent. On November 22, 
2010, the ALJ issued a final ID finding that all of the asserted patent 
claims are invalid under 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103, based on prior art not 
previously considered in the above-captioned investigation. On January 
21, 2011, the Commission issued a notice determining not to review a 
majority of the ALJ's determinations on patent validity, which resulted 
in a final determination that claim 1 of the `231 patent and claims 1, 
2, 7, 16, 17, 18, and 20 of the `089 patent are invalid. Knowles 
appealed the Commission's final determination to the Federal Circuit 
(Appeal No. 2011-1260), but Knowles later withdrew its appeal before 
the appeal was decided.
    On August 9, 2011, respondent MemsTech petitioned the Commission in 
the above-captioned investigation to rescind all directives in the June 
12, 2009 exclusion order that are based on claim 1 of the 231 patent 
and claims 1, 2, 17, and 20 of the '089 patent because the Commission 
determined those claims are invalid in Inv. No. 337-TA-695. On August 
22, 2011, complainant Knowles filed an opposition to MemsTech's 
petition.
    The Commission has determined that its invalidity determinations in 
Inv. No. 337-TA-695 constitute changed circumstances and justify 
partial rescission of the June 12, 2009 exclusion order entered in the 
present investigation. The Commission has determined to rescind the 
portions of the June 12, 2009 exclusion order that refer to claim 1 of 
the `231 patent and claims 1, 2, 17, and 20 of the `089 patent. All 
other provisions of the June 12, 2009 exclusion order remain in effect.
    The authority for the Commission's determination is contained in 
section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and 
in section 210.76 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure 
(19 CFR 210.76).

     Issued: October 28, 2011.

    By order of the Commission.
James R. Holbein,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2011-28488 Filed 11-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P