ITC Asks for Comments on Possible Import Ban for Cellphone and Tablet Cases

The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by April 23 on whether it should ban imports of cellphone and tablet cases in connection with a Section 337 patent investigation requested by Speculative Product Design (Speck). The ITC says six Chinese companies -- Anbess, Rocon, Trait, Wexun, SW-Box, and Global -- did not participate in the investigation, so the commission automatically found that they imported cases for portable electronic devices that infringe Speck’s patents. The administrative law judge in the case recommended a general exclusion order banning imports of infringing cellphone and tablet cases from all companies.