2017-25728. Certain Road Construction Machines and Components Thereof; Institution of Investigation

AGENCY:

U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on October 26, 2017, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria, Illinois and Caterpillar Paving Products, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota. A supplement was filed on November 9, 2017. The complaint, as supplemented, 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 road construction machines and components thereof by reason of infringement of one or more of U.S. Patent No. 7,140,693 (“the '693 patent”); U.S. Patent No. 9,045,871 (“the '871 patent”); and U.S. Patent No. 7,641,419 (“the '419 patent”). The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists, or is in the process of being established, as required by the applicable Federal Statute.

The complainants request that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order.

ADDRESSES:

The complaint, except for any confidential information contained therein, is available for inspection during official business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20436, telephone [phone]. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on [phone]. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at [phone]. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The Office of the Secretary, Docket Services Division, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone [phone].

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 (2017).

Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. International Trade Commission, on November 22, 2017, 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 road construction machines and components thereof by reason of infringement of one or more of claims 1, 15-19, 24-28, 36 and 38 of the '693 patent; claims 1-5, 8, 9, 12-17 of the '871 patent; and claims 1-3, 7, and 8 of the '419 patent; and whether an industry in the United States exists, or is in the process of being established, as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337;

(2) 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 complainants are:

Caterpillar Inc., 100 NE Adams St., Peoria, IL 61629

Caterpillar Paving Products, Inc., 9401 85th Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55445

(b) The respondent is the following entity alleged to be in violation of section 337, and is the party upon which the complaint is to be served:

Wirtgen GmbH, Reinhard-Wirtgen-Str. 2, 53578 Windhagen, Germany

Joseph Vögele AG, Joseph-Vogele-Str. 1, 67075 Ludwigshafen, Germany

Wirtgen Group Holding GmbH, Reinhard-Wirtgen-Str.2, 53578 Windhagen, Germany

Wirtgen America, Inc., 6030 Dana Way, Antioch, TN 37013

(3) 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 the 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), such responses will be considered by the Commission if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the Commission 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: November 22, 2017.

Katherine M. Hiner,

Supervisory Attorney.