2017-13686. Certain Liquid Crystal Ewriters and Components Thereof; Commission Determination Not To Review an Initial Determination Terminating the Last Remaining Respondent Based on Withdrawal of the Complaint; Request for Written Submissions on ...

AGENCY:

U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (“ID”) (Order No. 11) issued by the presiding administrative law judge (“ALJ”) on May 31, 2017, terminating the last remaining respondent based on a withdrawal of the complaint. The Commission requests written submissions, under the schedule set forth below, on remedy, public interest, and bonding concerning a previously defaulted respondent.

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 January 13, 2017, based on a complaint filed by Kent Displays, Inc. (“Kent Displays”) of Kent, Ohio. 82 FR 4418. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337 (“section 337”), in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain liquid crystal eWriters and components thereof that infringe U.S. Patent Nos. 7,351,506 and 8,947,604. Id. The Commission's notice of investigation named as respondents Shenzhen Howshow Technology Co., Ltd., d/b/a Shenzhen Howshare Technology Co., Ltd., d/b/a Howshare (“Howshare”) of Shenzhen, China, and Shenzhen SUNstone Technology Co., Ltd., d/b/a iQbe (“iQbe”) of Shenzhen, China. Id. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations is not participating in this investigation. Id.

On April 11, 2017, the ALJ issued an ID finding iQbe in default for failing to respond to the complaint, the notice of investigation, and multiple discovery requests, and for failing to respond to an order to show cause why it should not be found in default. Order No. 9, not reviewed, Notice (May 11, 2017).

On May 24, 2017, Kent Displays moved to terminate the investigation with respect to Howshare based on a withdrawal of the complaint. On May 26, 2017, Howshare responded that it did not oppose its termination from the investigation.

On May 31, 2017, the ALJ issued the subject ID, granting the motion and terminating the investigation with respect to Howshare. Order No. 11. No petitions for review of the ID were filed.

The Commission has determined not to review the subject ID.

On June 1, 2017, Kent Displays filed a declaration seeking relief against the defaulted respondent iQbe pursuant to section 337(g)(1) and Commission Rule 210.16(c), 19 CFR 210.16(c). The declaration contains Kent Displays' views on remedy, the public interest, and bonding. A proposed limited exclusion order and a proposed cease and desist order are attached to the declaration.

Section 337(g)(1) and Commission Rule 210.16(c) authorize the Commission to order relief against a respondent found in default, unless, after considering the public interest, it finds that such relief should not issue.

In connection with the final disposition of this investigation, the Commission may: (1) Issue an order that could result in the exclusion of articles manufactured or imported by iQbe; and/or (2) issue cease and desist orders that could result in iQbe being required to cease and desist from engaging in unfair acts in the importation and sale of such articles. Accordingly, the Commission is interested in receiving written submissions that address the form of remedy, if any, that should be ordered. If a party seeks exclusion of an article from entry into the United States for purposes other than entry for consumption, the party should so indicate and provide information establishing that activities involving other types of entry either are adversely affecting it or likely to do so. For background, see Certain Devices for Connecting Computers via Telephone Lines, Inv. No. 337-TA-360, USITC Pub. No. 2843, Comm'n Op. at 7-10 (December 1994).

If the Commission contemplates some form of remedy, it must consider the effects of that remedy upon the public interest. The factors that the Commission will consider include the effect that the exclusion order and/or cease and desists orders would have on (1) the public health and welfare, (2) competitive conditions in the U.S. economy, (3) U.S. production of articles that are like or directly competitive with those that are subject to investigation, and (4) U.S. consumers. The Commission is therefore interested in receiving written submissions that address the aforementioned public interest factors in the context of this investigation.

If the Commission orders some form of remedy, the U.S. Trade Representative, as delegated by the President, has 60 days to approve or disapprove the Commission's action. See Presidential Memorandum of July 21, 2005, 70 FR 43251 (July 26, 2005). During this period, the subject articles would be entitled to enter the United States under bond, in an amount determined by the Commission and prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Commission is therefore interested in receiving submissions concerning the amount of the bond that should be imposed if a remedy is ordered.

Written Submissions: Parties to the investigation, interested government agencies, and any other interested parties are encouraged to file written submissions on the issues of remedy, the public interest, and bonding. Kent Displays is requested to state the HTSUS numbers under which the accused products are imported, to state the dates that the patents expire, and to supply information concerning the identity of any known importers.

Written submissions must be filed no later than the close of business on July 10, 2017. Reply submissions must be filed no later than the close of business July 17, 2017. No further submissions on these issues will be permitted unless otherwise ordered by the Commission.

Persons filing written submissions must file the original document electronically on or before the deadline stated above and submit eight true paper copies to the Office of the Secretary pursuant to section 210.4(f) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.4(f)). Submissions should refer to the investigation number (“Inv. No. 337-TA-1035”) in a prominent place on the cover page and/or the first page. (See Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, https://www.usitc.gov/​secretary/​documents/​handbook_​on_​filing_​procedures.pdf). Persons with questions regarding filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000).

Any person desiring to submit a document to the Commission in confidence must request confidential treatment. All such requests should be directed to the Secretary to the Commission and must include a full statement of the reasons why the Commission should grant such treatment. See 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for which confidential treatment by the Commission is properly sought will be treated accordingly. All information, including confidential business information and documents for which confidential treatment is properly sought, submitted to the Commission for purposes of this Investigation may be disclosed to and used: (i) By the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel^[[1]] , solely for cybersecurity purposes. All nonconfidential written submissions will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Secretary and on EDIS.

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: June 26, 2017.

Lisa R. Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.

Footnotes

1.  All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.