[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12206-12207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04294]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-1252]


Certain Robotic Floor Cleaning Devices and Components Thereof 
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 January 28, 2021, under section 
337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of iRobot 
Corporation of Bedford, Massachusetts. 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 robotic floor cleaning devices and components 
thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 
9,884,423 (``the '423 patent''); U.S. Patent No. 10,813,517 (``the '517 
patent''); U.S. Patent No. 10,835,096 (``the '096 patent''); U.S. 
Patent No. 7,571,511 (``the '511 patent''); and U.S. Patent No. 
10,296,007 (``the '007 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 cease and desist orders.

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: Katherine Hiner, Office of Docket 
Services, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone (202) 205-
1802.

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 February 25, 2021, 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 1-4, 6-9, 12-15, 18, 20-23, 25, and 26 of the '423 patent; 
claims 1, 3, 4, 9, and 10 of the '517 patent; claims 1, 3-6, 8-10, 12-
14, 16-19, 21-23, 25 and 26 of the '096 patent; claims 1, 8-12, 14, 16, 
18, 19, 22-25, 32-34, 36, 37, 55, 56, and 62 of the '511 patent; and 
claims 1, 5,

[[Page 12207]]

6, 10, 12, and 13 of the '007 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 ``robotic vacuums and 
wet/dry mops, their docking stations, and associated parts and 
components (including software)'';
    (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:
iRobot Corporation
8 Crosby Drive
Bedford, MA 01730

    (b) The respondents are the following entities alleged to be in 
violation of section 337, and are the parties upon which the complaint 
is to be served:

SharkNinja Operating LLC, 89 A St. #100, Needham, MA 02494
SharkNinja Management LLC, 89 A St. #100, Needham, MA 02494
SharkNinja Management Co., 89 A St. #100, Needham, MA 02494
SharkNinja Sales Co., 89 A St. #100, Needham, MA 02494
EP Midco LLC, 89 A St. #100, Needham, MA 02494
SharkNinja Hong Kong Co. Ltd., 238 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan, 
Central & Western District--Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

    (4) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative 
Law Judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the 
presiding Administrative Law Judge.
    The Office of Unfair Import Investigations will not participate as 
a party in this investigation.
    Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be 
submitted by the named respondents 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.
    Failure of a 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: February 25, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-04294 Filed 3-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P