The International Trade Commission initiated a Section 337 investigation March 9 into barcode scanners and related devices with scanning capabilities (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1307). The investigation follows a Feb. 7 complaint (amended Feb. 25) by Zebra Technologies and Symbol Technologies (see 2202140017), alleging that Honeywell and its subsidiary Hand Held Products are importing barcode scanners, computers with barcode scanning capabilities, and scan engines that infringe on one of Zebra's and two of Symbol's patents. The complainants are seeking a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
Ben Perkins
Ben Perkins, Assistant Editor, is a reporter with International Trade Today and its sister publications, Trade Law Daily and Export Compliance Daily, where he covers sanctions, court rulings, and other international trade issues. He previously worked as a trade analyst for a Washington D.C. advisory firm. Ben holds a B.A. in English from the University of New Hampshire and an M.A. in International Relations from American University. Ben joined the staff of Warren Communications News in 2022.
A Mexican factory that was shut down by the government doesn't need to include costs incurred during the time it was inoperative in the parent company's computed value calculations, CBP said in a newly released Jan. 7 ruling. The facility, which is owned by Chamberlain, was shut down in March 2020 by state authorities in Sonora, Mexico, as part of an emergency decree closing all nonessential businesses in response to COVID-19. CBP's ruling hinged on the fact that the costs incurred during the time of the government-mandated shutdown were "not employed in the production of the imported merchandise."
The International Trade Commission initiated a Section 337 investigation March 7 into barcode scanners and related devices with scanning capabilities (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1306). The investigation follows a Feb. 4 complaint (amended Feb. 25) by Zebra Technologies and Symbol Technologies (see 2202140017), alleging that Honeywell and its subsidiary Hand Held Products are importing barcode scanners, computers with barcode scanning capabilities, and scan engines that infringe on one of Zebra's and two of Symbol's patents. The complainants are seeking a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
CBP recently ruled that imports of men's suits from an Italian parent company to its related U.S. importer didn't qualify for first sale treatment. In a ruling issued Jan. 4 and released March 7, the agency said that transactions between factory and parent company and between parent company and importer don't qualify as "sales" and that the transaction value between the importer and its U.S. customers should instead be used to value the merchandise. The ruling followed a request for internal advice from the CBP Validation and Compliance Division as to how to correctly appraise the suits.
The International Trade Commission initiated a Section 337 investigation Feb. 14 into networking devices. The investigation follows a Jan. 12 complaint by Proven Networks, LLC (see 2201180035), alleging that Netapp is improperly importing networking devices that infringe on one of Proven's patents. Proven Networks seeks a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
The International Trade Commission is soliciting public comments following a Section 337 complaint filed by Zebra Technologies and Symbol Technologies Feb. 4. Zebra and Symbol argue that Honeywell and its subsidiary Hand Held Products are importing barcode scanners, computers with barcode scanning capabilities, and scan engines that infringe on an additional four patents in violation of Section 337. The complaint is nearly identical to another (see 2202100027) filed the same day regarding three separate patents that Zebra and Symbol accuse Honeywell of infringing. The complainants seek a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. Written submissions are due Feb. 22.
A Corona, California, customs broker was arrested Feb. 10 on a federal grand jury indictment charging him in a scheme to defraud a Japanese variety store. Broker Frank Seung Noah was charged with tax evasion and wire fraud involving customs duties. The indictment says he evaded payment of $1.5 million in taxes and engaged in a $3.4 million wire fraud scheme that overcharged one of his clients, Daiso, the variety store. Noah owned and operated Comis International Inc., a logistics and supply-chain firm that provided customs brokerage services to companies, including Daiso.
The International Trade Commission is soliciting public comments following a Section 337 complaint filed by Zebra Technologies and Symbol Technologies Feb. 4. The complaint alleges that Honeywell is importing barcode scanners, computers with barcode scanning capabilities, scan engines and RFID printers that infringe on one of Zebra's, and two of Symbol's, patents in violation of Section 337. The complainants seek a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. Written submissions are due Feb. 21.
The International Trade Commission officially opened an investigation into alleged misappropriation of trade secrets relating to the manufacture of the antirheumatic drug Adalimumab. The investigation (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1296) is based on a complaint filed by AbbVie Dec. 17 (see 2112230048), alleging that Alvotech, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Ivers-Lee engaged in "a scheme to improperly recruit employees with knowledge of AbbVie's manufacturing process for Adalimumab," in an attempt to market a biosimilar called AVT02. AbbVie asked the ITC to issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders banning importation and sale of covered goods by Alvotech, Teva and Ivers-Lee and their affiliates.
The International Trade Commission opened an investigation into the importation of certain automated walls and automated storage and retrieval systems, associated vehicles, associated control software, and component parts thereof (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1293). The investigation follows a Dec. 22 complaint filed by OPEX that alleged infringement of four patents by HC Robotics and Invata (see 2112290033). OPEX seeks a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.