ITC Ends Investigation on Fiber Optic Network Equipment After Finding No Section 337 Violation
The International Trade Commission has ended a Section 337 investigation on imported passive network equipment (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1384), it said in a Federal Register notice to be published May 1. Complainant Optimum initially alleged in 2023 that three companies in China -- Hangzhou Softel, Hangzhou Daytai Network Technologies and Hangzhou Sumlo Industrial -- are manufacturing fiber optic network equipment that copies its patented technologies that improve cost-efficiency of fiber optic network connectivity (see 2312290038).
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In December 2024, the presiding administrative law judge issued a final initial determination finding no violation because "due to post institution assignments of the asserted patents, Optimum is no longer a proper complainant," among other reasons.
In March, the Commission determined to review the FID and found no violation, saying that Optimum had not satisfied the importation requirement, failed "to show infringement," and had not satisfied the domestic industry requirement. The ITC then voted on April 25 to terminate the investigation based on the finding of no violation.