Certain Carbon Spine Board, Cervical Collar, CPR Masks and Various Medical Training Manikin Devices, and Trademarks, Copyrights of Product Catalogues, Product Inserts and Components Thereof; Commission Determination Not To Review an Initial Determination Finding All Respondents in Default; Request for Written Submissions on Remedy, the Public Interest, and Bonding
Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)
Notices
Pages 95192-95194
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2016-31074
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Investigation No. 337-TA-1008
Certain Carbon Spine Board, Cervical Collar, CPR Masks and Various Medical Training Manikin Devices, and Trademarks, Copyrights of Product Catalogues, Product Inserts and Components Thereof; Commission Determination Not To Review an Initial Determination Finding All Respondents in Default; Request for Written Submissions on Remedy, the Public Interest, and Bonding
AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (``ID'') issued by the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') on November 21, 2016, finding all respondents in default. The Commission requests written submissions, under the schedule set forth below, on remedy, public interest, and bonding.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Needham, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 708-5468. 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 (202) 205-2000. General information concerning the Commission
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may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission instituted this investigation on June 24, 2016, based on an amended complaint, as supplemented, filed by Laerdal Medical Corp. of Wappingers Falls, New York, and Laerdal Medical AS of Stavanger, Norway (together, ``Laerdal''). 81 FR 41349-
50. The investigation was instituted to determine whether there is a violation 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 carbon spine board, cervical collar, CPR masks, various medical training manikin devices, trademarks, copyrights of product catalogues and products inserts, and components thereof by reason of infringement of one or more of U.S. Patent No. 6,090,058, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 3,476,656, or U.S. Copyright Registration Nos. VA 1-879-023 and VA 1-879-026, or by reason of trade dress misappropriation and infringement. Id. at 41349. The Commission's notice of investigation named as respondents Shanghai Evenk International Trading Co., Ltd., Shanghai Honglian Medical Instrument, Development Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Jolly Medical Education Co., Ltd., all of Shanghai, China; Zhangjiagang Xiehe Medical Apparatus & Instruments Co., Ltd., Zhangjiagang New Fellow Med Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Yongxin Medical Equipment Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Yongxin Medical-Use Facilities Making, Co., Ltd, all of Zhangjiagang City, China; Jiangyin Everise Medical Devices Co., Ltd., of Jiangyin City, China; Medsource International Co., Ltd. and Medsource Factory, Inc. of PuDong, China; and Basic Medical Supply, LLC of Richmond, Texas. Id. at 41350. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations (``OUII'') was also named as a party. Id.
All respondents were served with a copy of the complaint and notice of investigation. See OUII Default Motion Response (Oct. 31, 2016) at 3 and Ex. A. On October 20, 2016, Laerdal filed a motion requesting that the ALJ order all respondents to show cause why they should not be held in default for failing to respond to the complaint and notice of investigation. On October 31, 2016, OUII filed a response in support of Laerdal's motion.
On November 7, 2016, the ALJ ordered all of the respondents to show cause why they should not be held in default, and set a response deadline of November 14, 2016. Order No. 5. No responses were filed. On November 21, 2016, the ALJ issued the subject ID (Order No. 6) finding all respondents in default pursuant to Commission Rules 210.16 and 210.17. No petitions for review of the ID were filed. On December 1, 2016, Laerdal indicated that it was not seeking a general exclusion order.
The Commission has determined not to review the subject ID.
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 the defaulting respondents; and/or (2) issue cease and desist orders that could result in the defaulting respondents 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. Laerdal and OUII are requested to submit proposed remedial orders for the Commission's consideration. Laerdal is also requested to state the HTSUS numbers under which the accused products are imported, and to state the dates that the patents expire. Laerdal is further requested to supply identification information on any known importers.
Written submissions and proposed remedial orders must be filed no later than the close of business on January 5, 2017. Reply submissions must be filed no later than the close of business on January 12, 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-1008'') in a prominent place on the cover page and/or the first page. (See Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg_notices/rules/handbook_on_electronic_filing.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
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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.
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\1\ All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
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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: December 20, 2016.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
FR Doc. 2016-31074 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
