[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72623-72624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27702]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-1213]


Certain Light-Emitting Diode Products, Fixtures, and Components 
Thereof Notice of a Commission Determination Finding a Violation of 
Section 337; Issuance of 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 (``the Commission'') has determined to affirm a final 
initial determination (``ID'') of the presiding administrative law 
judge (``ALJ'') finding a violation of section 337 by the accused 
products of respondent RAB Lighting Inc. (``RAB'') of Northvale, New 
Jersey. The Commission has issued a limited exclusion order (``LEO'') 
directed against infringing light-emitting diode products, fixtures, 
and components thereof of RAB and a cease and desist order (``CDO'') 
directed against RAB. The investigation is terminated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clint Gerdine, Esq., Office of the 
General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 708-2310. Copies of non-
confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation may 
be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email 
[email protected]. General information concerning the Commission may 
also be obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on 
this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD 
terminal, telephone (202) 205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission instituted this investigation 
on August 17, 2020, based on a complaint filed on behalf of Ideal 
Industries Lighting LLC d/b/a Cree Lighting (``Cree'') of Durham, North 
Carolina. 85 FR 50047-48 (Aug. 17, 2020). The complaint, as 
supplemented, alleges violations of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 
19 U.S.C. 1337 (``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 light-emitting diode products, 
fixtures, and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain 
claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,403,531 (``the '531 patent''); 8,596,819 
(``the '819 patent''); 8,777,449 (``the '449 patent''); 9,261,270 
(``the '270 patent''); and 9,476,570 (``the '570 patent''). The 
complaint further alleges the existence of a domestic industry. The 
Commission's notice of investigation (``NOI'') named RAB as the sole 
respondent. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations is not 
participating in the investigation. The Commission previously 
terminated the following claims from the investigation: (1) Claims 1-9 
and 11-14 of the '449 patent; (2) claims 3-12 of the '270 patent; 
claims 17, 21, and 24 of the '531 patent; and (3) claims 2, 6-9, and 
11-24 of the '570 patent. See Order No. 13 (Jan. 8, 2021), unreviewed 
by Comm'n Notice (Jan. 26, 2021); Order No. 25 (May 5, 2021), 
unreviewed by Comm'n Notice (May 21, 2021). The Commission also amended 
the complaint and NOI to add asserted claim 11 of the `531 patent. See 
Order No. 13 (Jan. 8, 2021), unreviewed by Comm'n Notice (Jan. 26, 
2021).
    On August 17, 2021, the ALJ issued the final ID finding a violation 
of section 337 based on infringement of the asserted claims of the '270 
and '570 patents. The ID finds no violation of section 337 with respect 
to the '531 and '819 patents on the basis of patent-ineligible subject 
matter, lack of enablement, and lack of written description. The ID 
also finds no violation with respect to the '449 patent based on 
findings that the accused products do not infringe asserted claim 10; 
the asserted claims are invalid for lack of enablement; and the 
domestic industry products do not practice one or more claims. The ALJ 
recommended, should the Commission find a violation, issuing a limited 
exclusion order directed to RAB's infringing products and a cease and 
desist order directed to RAB and requiring a bond in the amount of five 
(5) percent for importation of infringing articles during the period of 
Presidential review.
    On October 25, 2021, the Commission determined to review the final 
ID in part. Specifically, the Commission determined to review the ID's 
finding that: (1) The asserted claims of the '531 patent and '819 
patent are invalid due to patent-ineligible subject matter, lack of 
enablement, and lack of written description and (2) the '819 patent is 
prior art to claims 1, 10-12, and 26 of the '531 patent. The Commission 
determined not to review the remainder of the ID, including the ID's 
finding of a violation with respect to the '270 and '570 patents. 86 FR 
60071-72 (Oct. 29, 2021). The Commission also requested written 
submissions from the parties, interested government agencies, and other 
interested persons on the issues of remedy, the public interest, and 
bonding. Id.
    On November 8 and 15, 2021, Cree and RAB each filed a brief and a 
reply brief, respectively, on remedy, the public interest, and bonding. 
The Commission received no other submissions.
    Having reviewed the record in this investigation, including the 
final ID and the parties' briefing, the Commission has determined, on 
review, to: (1) Affirm the ID's finding that the asserted claims of the 
'531 and '819 patents are patent ineligible; (2) take no position on 
the ID's finding that the asserted claims of the '531 and '819 patents 
are invalid due to lack of enablement and lack of written description; 
and (3) take no position on the ID's finding that the '819 patent is 
prior art to claims 1, 10-12, and 26 of the '531 patent. Accordingly, 
the Commission affirms the ID's finding of no violation as to the '531 
and '819 patents.
    The Commission has adopted the final ID's finding of a violation of 
section 337 as to the '270 and '570 patents. The Commission has 
determined that the appropriate form of relief is an LEO prohibiting 
the entry of unlicensed light-emitting diode products, fixtures, and 
components thereof that infringe one or more of claims 1-2 of the '270 
patent and claims 1, 3-5, and 10 of the '570 patent, and that are 
manufactured abroad by or on behalf of, or imported by or on behalf of 
RAB, or any of its affiliated companies, parents, subsidiaries, or 
other related business entities, or their successors or assigns 
(collectively, ``the covered articles''). Appropriate relief also 
includes a CDO prohibiting RAB from conducting any of the following 
activities in the United States: Importing, selling, marketing, 
advertising, distributing, offering for sale, transferring (except for 
exportation), and soliciting U.S. agents or distributors for light-
emitting diode products, fixtures, and components thereof that infringe 
one or more of claims 1-2 of the '270 patent and claims 1, 3-5, and 10 
of the '570 patent.

[[Page 72624]]

    The Commission has further determined that the public interest 
factors enumerated in sections 337(d)(1) and 337(f)(1) (19 U.S.C. 
1337(d)(1) and 1337(f)(1)) do not warrant denying relief. Finally, the 
Commission has determined that a bond in the amount of five (5) percent 
of the entered value of the covered articles is required during the 
period of Presidential review (19 U.S.C. 1337(j)). The Commission's 
order was delivered to the President and to the United States Trade 
Representative on the day of its issuance.
    The Commission issues its opinion herewith setting forth its 
determinations on the remedy issues. The investigation is terminated.
    The Commission vote for this determination took place on December 
16, 2021.
    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: December 16, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-27702 Filed 12-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P