[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 164 (Monday, August 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52153-52154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18537]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-1215]


Certain Mobile Electronic Devices and Laptop Computers; 
Institution of Investigation

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the 
U.S. International Trade Commission on July 17, 2020, under section 337 
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of Maxell, Ltd. of 
Japan. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 based upon the 
importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the 
sale within the United States after importation of certain mobile 
electronic devices and laptop computers by reason of infringement of 
certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,203,517 (``the '517 patent''); U.S. 
Patent No. 8,982,086 (``the '086 patent''); U.S. Patent No. 7,199,821 
(``the '821 patent''); U.S. Patent No. 10,129,590 (``the '590 
patent''); and U.S. Patent No. 10,176,848 (``the '848 patent''). The 
complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists 
as required by the applicable Federal Statute. The complainant requests 
that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the 
investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist 
order.

ADDRESSES: The complaint, except for any confidential information 
contained therein, may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email 
[email protected]. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that 
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the 
Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810. Persons with mobility 
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the 
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 205-
2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be 
obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pathenia Proctor, Office of Unfair 
Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone 
(202) 205-2560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Authority: The authority for institution of this investigation is 
contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 
U.S.C. 1337, and in section 210.10 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2020).
    Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. 
International Trade Commission, on August 18, 2020, Ordered that--
    (1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended, an investigation be instituted to determine whether 
there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337 in the 
importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or the 
sale within the United States after importation of certain products 
identified in paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one or more of 
claims 9 and 10 of the '517 patent; claims 1-4 of the '086 patent; 
claims 1, 4, 6, and 7 of the '821 patent; claims 1-10 of the '590 
patent; and claims 8, 10-13, and 15-20 of the '848 patent, and whether 
an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection 
(a)(2) of section 337;
    (2) Pursuant to section 210.10(b)(1) of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10(b)(1), the plain language 
description of the accused products or category of accused products, 
which defines the scope of the investigation, is ``mobile devices, 
tablets, smartwatches, and laptop computers sold under the Apple brand 
name'';
    (3) For the purpose of the investigation so instituted, the 
following are hereby named as parties upon which this notice of 
investigation shall be served:
    (a) The complainant is:

Maxell, Ltd., 1 Koizumi, Oyamazaki, Oyamazaki-cho, Otokuni-gun, Kyoto, 
Japan

    (b) The respondent is the following entity alleged to be in 
violation of section 337, and is the party upon which the complaint is 
to be served:

Apple Inc., One Apple Park Way, Cupertino, CA 95014

    (c) The Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International 
Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20436; and
    (4) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative 
Law Judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the 
presiding Administrative Law Judge.
    Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be 
submitted by the named respondent in accordance with section 210.13 of 
the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.13. 
Pursuant to 19 CFR 201.16(e) and 210.13(a), as amended in 85 FR 15798 
(March 19, 2020), such responses will be considered by the Commission 
if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the 
complainant of the complaint and the notice of investigation. 
Extensions of time for submitting responses to the complaint and the 
notice of investigation will not be granted unless good cause therefor 
is shown.

[[Page 52154]]

    Failure of the respondent to file a timely response to each 
allegation in the complaint and in this notice may be deemed to 
constitute a waiver of the right to appear and contest the allegations 
of the complaint and this notice, and to authorize the administrative 
law judge and the Commission, without further notice to the respondent, 
to find the facts to be as alleged in the complaint and this notice and 
to enter an initial determination and a final determination containing 
such findings, and may result in the issuance of an exclusion order or 
a cease and desist order or both directed against the respondent.

    By order of the Commission.
    Issued: August 19, 2020.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-18537 Filed 8-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P