2017-02178. Certain Table Saws Incorporating Active Injury Mitigation Technology and Components Thereof; Issuance of a Limited Exclusion Order and a Cease and Desist Order; Termination of the Investigation

AGENCY:

U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has issued a limited exclusion order against certain products of Robert Bosch Tool Corporation and Robert Bosch GmbH, and a cease and desist order against Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. The investigation is terminated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Needham, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone [phone]. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation are or will be 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., Washington, DC 20436, telephone [phone]. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (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. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Commission instituted this investigation on September 1, 2015, based on a complaint filed by SawStop, LLC, and SD3, LLC (together, “SawStop”). 80 FR 52791-92 (Sept. 1, 2015). The amended complaint alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain table saws incorporating active injury mitigation technology and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of United States Patent Nos. 7,225,712 (“the '712 patent”); 7,600,455 (“the '455 patent”); 7,610,836 (“the '836 patent”); 7,895,927 (“the '927 patent”); 8,011,279 (“the '279 patent”); and 8,191,450 (“the '450 patent”). The notice of investigation named as respondents Robert Bosch Tool Corp. of Mount Prospect, Illinois, and Robert Bosch GmbH of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (together, “Bosch”). Id. at 52792. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations is not a party to the investigation. Id.

The Commission terminated the investigation with respect to the '836 and '450 patents based on SawStop's withdrawal of allegations concerning those patents. Order No. 8 (Mar. 10, 2016), not reviewed, Notice (Apr. 4, 2016); Order No. 13 (May 3, 2016), not reviewed, Notice (May 23, 2016).

On January 27, 2016, SawStop moved for a summary determination that it satisfied the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement. On February 8, 2016, Bosch indicated that it did not oppose the motion. On March 22, 2016, the ALJ granted the unopposed motion and determined that SawStop satisfied the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement. Order No. 10 (Mar. 22, 2016), not reviewed, Notice (Apr. 21, 2016).

On September 9, 2016, the ALJ issued his final initial determination finding a violation of section 337 with respect to the '927 and '279 patents, and no violation of section 337 with respect to the '712 and '455 patents. Specifically, he found that Bosch did not directly or contributorily infringe the '712 and '455 patents, but found that Bosch's REAXX table saw directly infringed the '927 and '279 patents and that Bosch's activation cartridges contributorily infringed the '927 and '279 patents. He also found that Bosch had failed to show that any of the patent claims were invalid, and that SawStop satisfied the domestic industry requirement with respect to all four patents. Based on these findings, on September 20, 2016, the ALJ recommended that a limited exclusion order issue against Bosch's infringing products, that a cease and desist order issue against Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, and that the bond during the period of Presidential review be set at zero percent. He also recommended that the scope of the exclusion order and cease and desist order specifically cover the contributorily infringing activation cartridges.

On September 26, 2016, SawStop and Bosch each petitioned for review of the ID. On October 4, 2016, the parties opposed each other's petitions. On November 10, 2016, the Commission determined not to review the ID, and requested briefing from the parties and the public on the issues of remedy, the public interest, and bonding. The Commission received responsive submissions from SawStop, Bosch, and the PowerTool Institute, Inc. on November 22, 2016, and reply submissions from SawStop and Bosch on December 2, 2016.

The Commission has determined that the appropriate remedy is a limited exclusion order prohibiting the entry of table saws incorporating active injury mitigation technology and components thereof that infringe claims 8 and 12 of the '927 patent and claims 1, 6, 16, and 17 of the '279 patent, and an order that Robert Bosch Tool Corp. cease and desist from importing, selling, marketing, advertising, distributing, offering for sale, transferring (except for exportation), or soliciting U.S. agents or distributors of imported table saws incorporating active injury mitigation technology and components thereof that infringe claims 8 and 12 of U.S. Patent the '927 patent and claims 1, 6, 16, and 17 of the '279 patent. The Commission has determined that the public interest factors enumerated in section 337(d) and (f), 19 U.S.C. 1337(d) and (f), do not preclude the issuance of the limited exclusion order or cease and desist order. The Commission has determined that bonding at zero percent of entered value is required during the period of Presidential review, 19 U.S.C. 1337(j). Commissioner Kieff dissents as to the bond determination, and writes separately to explain his views both concerning the basis for issuing the cease and desist order and for making the bond determination. The investigation is terminated.

The Commission's order and opinion were delivered to the President and the United States Trade Representative on the day of their issuance.

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: January 27, 2017.

Lisa R. Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.