[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35428-35429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14325]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-814]


Certain Automotive GPS Navigation Systems, Components Thereof, 
and Products Containing Same Determination Not To Review ALJ Order Nos. 
8 And 9; Termination of the Investigation Based on a Withdrawal of the 
Complaint

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 not to review the presiding administrative 
law judge's (``ALJ'') Order No. 8 denying a motion for a show cause 
order and an initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 9) terminating 
the investigation based on complainant's withdrawal of the complaint.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Jackson, Esq., Office of the 
General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-3104. 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 at 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 November 23, 2011, based on a complaint filed by Beacon Navigation 
GmbH of Zug, Switzerland (``Beacon''). 76 FR 72443 (Nov. 23, 2011). The 
complaint alleged violations of section

[[Page 35429]]

337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 19 U.S.C. 1337, in the 
importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the 
sale within the United States after importation of certain automotive 
GPS navigation systems, components thereof, and products containing the 
same by reason of infringement of certain claims of United States 
Patent Nos. 6,374,180; 6,178,380; 6,029,111; and 5,862,511.
    The notice of investigation named as respondents Audi AG of 
Ingolstadt, Germany; Audi of America, Inc. of Auburn Hills, Michigan; 
Audi of America, LLC of Herndon, Virginia; Bayerische Motoren Werke AG 
of Munich, Germany; BMW of North America, LLC of Woodcliff Lake, New 
Jersey; BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC of Greer, South Carolina; Chrysler 
Group LLC of Auburn Hills, Michigan; Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, 
Michigan; General Motors Company of Detroit, Michigan; Honda Motor Co., 
Ltd. Of Tokyo, Japan; Honda North America, Inc. an American Honda Motor 
Co., Inc., both of Torrance, California; Honda Manufacturing of 
Alabama, LLC of Lincoln, Alabama; Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC 
of Greensburg, Indiana; Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. of 
Marysville, Ohio; Hyundai Motor Company of Seoul, South Korea; Hyundai 
Motor America of Fountain Valley, California; Hyundai Motor 
Manufacturing Alabama, LLC of Montgomery, Alabama; Kia Motors Corp. of 
Seoul, South Korea; Kia Motors America, Inc. of Irvine, California; Kia 
Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. of West Point, Georgia; Mazda Motor 
Corporation of Hiroshima, Japan; Mazda Motor of America, Inc. of 
Irvine, California; Daimler AG of Stuttgart, Germany; Mercedes-Benz 
USA, LLC of Montvale, New Jersey; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, 
Inc. of Vance, Alabama; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. of Yokohama-shi, Japan; 
Nissan North America, Inc. of Franklin, Tennessee; Dr. Ing. H.c. F. 
Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany; Porsche Cars North America, Inc. of 
Atlanta, Georgia; Saab Automobile AB of Trollhattan, Sweden; Saab Cars 
North America, Inc. of Royal Oak, Michigan; Suzuki Motor Corporation of 
Hamamatsu City, Japan; American Suzuki Motor Corporation of Brea, 
California; Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC of Mahwah, New Jersey; 
Jaguar Cars Limited of Coventry, United Kingdom; Land Rover of 
Warwickshire, United Kingdom; Toyota Motor Corporation of Toyota City, 
Japan; Toyota Motor North America, Inc. of Torrance, California; Toyota 
Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. of Erlanger, 
Kentucky; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. of Princeton, 
Indiana; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. of Georgetown, 
Kentucky; Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Inc. of Blue Springs, 
Mississippi; Volkswagen AG of Wolfsburg, Germany; Volkswagen Group of 
America, Inc. and Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, 
LLC, both of Herndon, Virginia; Volvo Car Corporation of Goteborg, 
Sweden; and Volvo Cars of North America, LLC of Rockleigh, New Jersey.
    On February 29, 2012, the Commission determined not to review an ID 
amending the complaint and notice of investigation to terminate General 
Motors Company from the investigation and replace it with General 
Motors LLC of Detroit, Michigan. 77 FR 13350 (Mar. 6, 2012).
    Complainant filed a motion to withdraw its complaint on April 13, 
2012. On April 20, 2012, the respondents stated that they did not 
oppose the motion to terminate, but requested that the motion not be 
granted until it was determined if Beacon violated Commission Rules 
210.12(a)(9)(iii) and/or 210.4(c) concerning the veracity of licensing 
information in its complaint. On the same day, respondents filed a 
motion requesting that the ALJ sua sponte issue a show cause order 
directing Beacon and its counsel to (1) identify all licensees that 
Beacon and its counsel are currently aware of and knew of at the time 
the Complaint was filed, (2) provide details of Beacon's pre-filing 
investigation, and (3) show cause why Beacon did not violate Commission 
Rule 210.4(c) by identifying only MiTAC International Inc. (``MiTAC'') 
as a licensed entity.
    On May 8, 2012, the ALJ issued an ID (Order No. 8) denying the 
motion for a sua sponte show cause order, as well as two other motions 
to recover from complainant costs incurred in preparing for cancelled 
depositions. On the same day, the ALJ issued Order No. 9, an ID 
granting complainant's motion to terminate the investigation based on a 
withdrawal of the complaint.
    On May 15, 2012, several respondents filed a joint petition for 
review of both orders, arguing that there is a split in Commission 
precedent concerning the application of the safe harbor provision, 
which is at issue in Order 8. They petitioned for review of Order 9 to 
enable the Commission to grant the relief sought with respect to Order 
No. 8. Petitioners do not oppose termination of the investigation on 
any other ground. On May 22, 2012, the Commission investigative 
attorney and the complainant each filed a response in opposition to the 
petition.
    Upon consideration of the petition and the responses thereto, the 
Commission has determined not to review either ALJ Order. The 
Commission does not agree that there is a split in Commission precedent 
regarding application of the safe harbor provision of 19 CFR 
210.4(d)(1). The Commission investigations cited by petitioners each 
represent the exercise of discretion by the presiding ALJ in 
determining whether to issue a show cause order. See Certain Point of 
Sale Terminals and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-524, Order No. 
40 (April 11, 2005); Certain Weather Stations and Components Thereof, 
Inv. No. 337-TA-537, Order No. 8 (Oct. 12, 2005); and Certain Insulin 
Delivery Devices, Inv. No. 337-TA-572, Order No. 5 (Jan. 29, 2007).
    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 sections 210.21 and 210.42(h) of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedure (19 CFR 210.21, 210.42).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: June 7, 2012.
Lisa R. Barton,
Acting Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2012-14325 Filed 6-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P