2024-22149. Certain Exercise Equipment and Subassemblies Thereof; Notice of Institution of Investigation

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International Trade Commission

1. [Investigation No. 337-TA-1419]

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 August 15, 2024, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of Balanced Body, Inc. of Sacramento, California. A supplement to the complaint was filed on September 6, 2024. 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 exercise equipment and subassemblies thereof by reason of the infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 8,721,511 (“the '511 patent”); U.S. Patent No. D659,205 (“the D'205 patent”); and U.S. Patent No. D659,208 (“the D'208 patent”). The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by the applicable Federal Statute. The complainant requests that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a general exclusion order, or in the alternative a limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders.

ADDRESSES:

The complaint, except for any confidential information contained therein, may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email [e-mail]. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Pathenia M. Proctor, The Office of Unfair Import Investigations, 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 (2024).

Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. International Trade Commission, on September 23, 2024, 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 ( print page 79307) section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or the sale within the United States after importation of certain products identified in paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one or more of claims 1-15, 19-21, and 23-26 of the '511 patent; the claim of the D'205 patent; and the claim of the D'208 patent, and whether an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337;

(2) Pursuant to section 210.10(b)(1) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10(b)(1), the plain language description of the accused products or category of accused products, which defines the scope of the investigation, is “exercise equipment known as Pilates reformers”;

(3) 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 complainant is: Balanced Body, Inc., 5909 88th St., Sacramento, CA 95828.

(b) The respondents are the following entities alleged to be in violation of section 337, and are the parties upon which the complaint is to be served:

Guangzhou Oasis, LLC, d/b/a trysauna.com, 1942 Broadway St., Suite 314C, Boulder, CO 80302

Ciga Pilates, 22/F, Star House, 3 Salisbury Road, Tism Sha Tsui, KL, Hong Kong

Shandong Tmax Machinery Technology Co. Ltd., 2nd Floor, No. 21, Building 1, Qixi Market, Xinhua Sub-district, Dezhou City, Shandong Province, China 253024

Shandong VOG Sports Products Co. Ltd., South, 50 meters east of the intersection of Zhenhua Street and Commercial Street, Ningjin County, Dezhou City, Shandong Province, China 253400

Dezhou Bodi Fitness Equipment Co., Ltd., No. 17 Taishan Road, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Park, Ningjin County Development Zone, Dezhou City, Shandong Province, China

Suzhou Selfcipline Sports Goods Co., Ltd., Unit 384, Room 1601, Building 1, Yueliangwan, International Business Center, No. 9 Cuiwei Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, China (Jiangsu), Pilot Free Trade Zone, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China

(c) The Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20436; and

(4) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative Law Judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the presiding Administrative Law Judge.

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), as amended in 85 FR 15798 (March 19, 2020), such responses will be considered by the Commission if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the complainant 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: September 23, 2024.

Lisa Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.