[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15223-15224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05396]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-1130]


Certain Beverage Dispensing Systems and Components Thereof; 
Commission Decision Finding a Violation of Section 337; Issuance of a 
Limited Exclusion Order and Cease and Desist Order; Termination of the 
Investigation

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 found a violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended, in this investigation and has issued a limited 
exclusion order and a cease and desist order prohibiting importation of 
infringing beverage dispensing systems and components thereof.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sidney A. Rosenzweig, Esq., Office of 
the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 708-2532. The public version 
of the complaint can be accessed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov, and 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 (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 this investigation 
on September 5, 2018, based on a complaint filed by Heineken 
International B.V. and Heineken Supply Chain B.V., both of Amsterdam, 
The Netherlands; and Heineken USA Inc. of White Plains, New York 
(collectively, ``Heineken''). 83 FR 45141, 45141-42 (Sept. 5, 2019). 
The complaint alleges a violation section 337 of the Tariff Act 1930, 
as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337 (``section 337'') in the importation into 
the United States, sale for importation, or sale in the United States 
after importation of certain beverage dispensing systems and components 
thereof that allegedly infringe claims 1-11 of the '751 patent. Id. The 
notice of investigation names as respondents Anheuser-Busch InBev SA, 
and InBev Belgium NV, both of Leuven, Belgium; and Anheuser-Busch, LLC 
of St. Louis, Missouri (collectively, ``ABI''). Id. The Office of 
Unfair Import Investigations was not named as a party to this 
investigation. Id.
    On February 6, 2019, the presiding administrative law judge 
(``ALJ'') granted Heineken's motion to partially terminate the 
investigation as to claims 2, 4-6, 8-9, and 11 of the '751 patent. 
Order No. 6 (Feb. 6, 2019), not reviewed, Notice (Mar. 7, 2019). 
Remaining within the investigation are claims 1, 3, 7, and 10 of the 
'751 patent. On March 26, 2019, the ALJ issued Order No. 14, the 
Markman Order, construing certain claim terms. The ALJ conducted the 
evidentiary hearing from April 16-18 and 23, 2019.
    On September 5, 2019, the ALJ issued a final initial determination 
(``ID''), finding claims 1, 3, 7, and 10 infringed and not invalid, and 
thereby finding a violation of section 337 with respect to those 
claims. On September 19, 2019, the ALJ issued a Recommended 
Determination on Remedy and Bond (``RD''). The RD recommends that 
should the Commission find a violation of section 337, that the 
Commission issue a limited exclusion order, a cease and desist order, 
and impose a bond rate

[[Page 15224]]

during the period of Presidential review in the amount of five percent 
of the entered value of infringing articles.
    On September 18, 2019, ABI filed a petition for Commission review 
of aspects of the ID. That same day, Heineken filed a contingent 
petition for review. On September 26, 2019, the parties responded to 
each other's petitions.
    On November 4, 2019, the Commission determined to review the ID in 
its entirety. Notice at 2 (Nov. 4, 2019) (``Notice of Review''), 
published at 84 FR 60452 (Nov. 8, 2019). The Commission solicited 
briefing on remedy, the public interest, and bonding, as well on 
specific issues concerning claim construction, infringement, 
invalidity, and the domestic industry requirement.
    On November 18, 2019, the parties filed opening briefs in response 
to the Notice of Review. On November 26, 2019, the parties filed 
replies to each other's brief.
    Having reviewed the record of the investigation, including the 
Markman Order, the final ID, and the parties' submissions to the ALJ 
and to the Commission, the Commission has found a violation of section 
337. Specifically, the Commission finds that Heineken has demonstrated 
the existence of a domestic industry and that asserted claims 1, 3, 7, 
and 10 of the '751 patent are infringed and are not invalid.
    The Commission has further determined that the appropriate remedy 
is: (1) A limited exclusion order prohibiting the entry of infringing 
beverage dispensing systems and components thereof; and (2) a cease and 
desist order directed to respondent Anheuser-Busch LLC. The Commission 
has determined that the public interest factors enumerated in section 
337(d) and (f), 19 U.S.C. 1337(d), (f), do not preclude the issuance of 
the limited exclusion order or the cease and desist order. The 
Commission has determined that a bond in the amount of five (5) percent 
of the entered value of the imported beverage containers is required 
during the period of Presidential review. 19 U.S.C. 1337(j)(3). 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusion order and the cease and 
desist order permit ABI to import beverage containers that are used as 
part of ABI's PureDraught system.
    The investigation is terminated. The Commission's reasoning in 
support of its determinations is set forth more fully in its opinion. 
The Commission's orders and opinion were delivered to the President and 
the United States Trade Representative on the day of their issuance.
    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: March 11, 2020.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-05396 Filed 3-16-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P