[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33555-33556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14380]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-914]


Certain Sulfentrazone, Sulfentrazone Compositions, and Processes 
for Making Sulfentrazone; Commission's Determination Not To Review in 
Part a Final Initial Determination Finding No Violation of Section 337, 
and, on Review, To Set Aside Findings on One Issue and Correct a 
Typographical Error; Termination of the Investigation

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade 
Commission has determined to review in part a final initial 
determination (``ID'') issued by the presiding administrative law judge 
(``ALJ''). On review, the Commission determined to vacate the ALJ's 
findings on one issue and to correct a typographical error. The 
Commission has found no violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, in this investigation. The 
investigation is terminated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Needham, Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 708-5468. 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 April 14, 2014, based on a complaint filed by FMC Corporation 
(``FMC'') on March 5, 2014. 79 FR 20907-08. The complaint alleges 
violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 
U.S.C. 1337 (``section 337''), in the importation into the United 
States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States 
after importation of certain sulfentrazone active ingredient and 
formulated sulfentrazone compositions made by a process that infringes 
certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,169,952 (``the '952 patent''). The 
Commission's notice of investigation named as respondents Beijing 
Nutrichem Science and Technology Stock Co., Ltd., of Beijing, China 
(``Beijing Nutrichem''); Summit Agro USA, LLC, of Cary, North Carolina; 
Summit Agro North America, Holding Corporation of New York, New York; 
and Jiangxi Heyi Chemicals Co. Ltd. of Jiujiang City, China. Id. at 
20908. The ALJ later granted FMC's motion to amend the complaint and 
notice of investigation to replace Beijing Nutrichem with Nutrichem 
Co., Ltd. (``Nutrichem''). Order No. 9 (May 29, 2014), not reviewed 
June 23, 2014. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations is also a 
party to the investigation.

[[Page 33556]]

    On April 10, 2015, the ALJ issued her final ID finding no violation 
of section 337. She found that, under her claim constructions, there 
was insufficient evidence to conclude that the respondents infringed 
the asserted claims or that FMC satisfied either the technical prong or 
the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement. She further 
found that the respondents showed by clear and convincing evidence that 
the asserted claims of the '952 patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. 
102(g).
    On April 22, 2015, FMC filed a timely petition for review 
challenging nearly all of the ID's findings. On April 30, 2015, the 
respondents and the Commission investigative attorney timely opposed 
FMC's petition.
    Having examined the record of this investigation, including the 
ALJ's final ID, the petition for review, and the responses thereto, the 
Commission has determined to review the final ID in part. The 
Commission has determined to review and set aside the ALJ's findings on 
the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement See 19 CFR 
210.45(c).
    The Commission has also determined to review the the ALJ's 
construction of ``a temperature in the range of about 120 [deg]C to 
about 160 [deg]C'' because it contains a typographical error. The ALJ 
cites the Commission's affirmance of her construction of the claim 
phrase during the temporary phrase of this investigation, but adds the 
word ``about'' to her quotation of the Commission's construction and to 
her final construction. Because the ID indicates the intent to be 
consistent with the Commission's construction, the Commission finds 
that the inclusion of the word ``about'' in the construction is a 
typographical error. On review, the Commission finds that ``a 
temperature in the range of about 120 [deg]C to about 160 [deg]C'' 
means ``a temperature in the range of 120 [deg]C (+/-2.5 [deg]C) to 160 
[deg]C (+/-2.5 [deg]C).'' This minor change does not impact any of the 
ALJ's findings on infringement, invalidity, or the technical prong of 
the domestic industry requirement.
    The Commission has determined not to review the remaining findings 
in the ID.
    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 Part 210 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 
part 210).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: June 8, 2015.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015-14380 Filed 6-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P