[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58652-58653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26826]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 337-TA-565/946; (Advisory Opinion Proceeding)]


Certain Ink Cartridges and Components Thereof; Notice of 
Commission Determination Not to Review an Initial Determination 
Granting a Joint Motion To Terminate the Advisory Opinion Proceeding 
Based on a Settlement Agreement; Termination of the Advisory Opinion 
Proceeding

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 an initial determination 
(``ID'') (Order No. 6) granting a joint motion to terminate the 
consolidated advisory opinion proceeding in the above-captioned 
investigations based on a settlement agreement. The consolidated 
advisory opinion proceeding is terminated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Chen, Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-2392. 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 https://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this investigation may be viewed 
on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://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 Inv. No. 337-TA-
565 on March 23, 2006, based on a complaint filed by Epson Portland, 
Inc. of Hillsboro, Oregon, Epson America, Inc. of Long Beach, 
California, and Seiko Epson Corporation of Nagano-Ken, Japan 
(collectively, ``Epson''). 71 FR 14720 (Mar. 23, 2006). The complaint 
alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, by reason of infringement of certain claims of 
U.S. Patent Nos. 5,615,957; 5,622,439; 5,158,377; 5,221,148; 5,156,472; 
5,488,401; 6,502,917; 6,550,902; 6,955,422; 7,008,053; and 7,011,397. 
The Commission's notice of investigation named 24 respondents including 
Ninestar Technology Company Ltd. of Montclair, California 
(``Ninestar''). The Office of Unfair Import Investigations (``OUII'') 
participated in the investigation. Several respondents were terminated 
from the investigation on the basis of settlement agreements or consent 
orders or were found in default. On October 19, 2007, the Commission 
issued a general exclusion order (``GEO'') and a limited exclusion 
order. The Commission also issued cease and desist orders (``CDO'') 
directed to several domestic respondents.
    The Commission instituted Inv. No. 337-TA-946 on January 27, 2015, 
based on a complaint filed by Epson. 80 FR 4314-16 (Jan. 27, 2015). 
That complaint alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, by reason of infringement of certain 
claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,366,233; 8,454,116; 8,794,749; 8,801,163; 
and 8,882,513. The Commission's notice of investigation named numerous 
respondents. OUII participated in the investigation. All the 
participating respondents were terminated from the investigation as a 
result of settlement agreements and/or consent motion stipulations. A 
number of the named respondents defaulted. On October 28, 2015, the 
presiding administrative law judge (ALJ) issued an initial 
determination granting Epson's motion for summary determination of 
violation of section 337 by the defaulting respondents. Based on 
evidence of a pattern of violation and difficulty ascertaining the 
source of the infringing products, the Commission issued a GEO and CDOs 
directed to two defaulted domestic respondents on May 26, 2016.
    On April 26, 2017, Ninestar, Ninestar Image Tech. Ltd., and Apex 
Microtech Ltd. (collectively, ``Requesters'') filed a request for a 
consolidated advisory opinion proceeding in both investigations 
pursuant to Commission Rule 210.79 (19 CFR 210.79). Specifically, 
Requesters seek an advisory opinion that will declare that their 
refurbished Epson ink cartridges remanufactured using empty Epson ink 
cartridges collected from the United States are outside the scope of 
the GEOs and CDOs issued in both investigations. Requesters also ask 
that the consolidated advisory opinion proceeding be conducted in an 
expedited manner pursuant to

[[Page 58653]]

Commission Rule 210.2 (19 CFR 210.2), without a formal hearing or 
discovery. Epson filed a timely response opposing the request. 
Thereafter, Requesters filed a motion for leave to file a reply to 
Epson's response.
    On June 16, 2017, the Commission determined to institute a 
consolidated advisory opinion proceeding in both investigations and 
referred the request to the Chief ALJ to designate a presiding ALJ. 82 
FR 27723 (Jun. 16, 2017). Epson, the Requesters, and OUII were named as 
parties to the proceeding. The Commission also determined to deny 
Requesters' motion for leave to file a reply.
    On November 17, 2017, Epson and the Requesters filed a joint motion 
to terminate the consolidated advisory opinion proceeding based on a 
settlement agreement. The joint motion included a confidential version 
of the settlement agreement. A public version of the agreement was 
filed with the public version of the joint motion. That same day, OUII 
filed a response in support of the joint motion. On November 22, 2017, 
the ALJ issued the subject ID (Order No. 6) granting the joint motion 
to terminate the consolidated advisory opinion proceeding. No petitions 
for review were filed.
    The Commission has determined not to review the subject ID. The 
Commission agrees with the ALJ that the joint motion to terminate the 
consolidated advisory opinion proceeding complies with the Commission's 
rules for termination and that there is no evidence that termination of 
the proceeding will adversely affect the public interest. Order No. 6 
at 2-3.
    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.

    Dated: December 7, 2017.
William R. Bishop,
Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-26826 Filed 12-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P