ITC Investigating Patent Infringement Complaints b

Washington, August 1--The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain laminated floor panels. The products at issue in this investigation are interlocking floor panels that are joined together using a tongue and groove configuration. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Unilin Beheer B.V. of the Netherlands, Flooring Industries Ltd. of Ireland, and Unilin Flooring N.C. LLC of Thomasville, NC, on July 1, 2005, alleging violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain laminated floor panels that infringe patents owned by Unilin Beheer B.V. The complainants request that the ITC issue an exclusion order and cease and desist orders. The ITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation: 3E Business Enterprises Ltd., of Canada; AMZ (Ghangzhou) Wooden Industrial Co., Ltd., of China; Changzhou Dongjia Decorative Materials Co., Ltd., of China; Changzhou Saili Wood Co., Ltd., of China; Changzhou Wujin Zhongxin Wood Co., Ltd., of China; China Floors Co. Ltd., of China; Dalton Carpet Liquidators, Inc., d/b/a/ Dalton Flooring Liquidators, of Gadsden, AL; Fujian Yongan Forestry (Group) Joint Stock Co., Ltd., of China; HFC Horizon Flooring Ltd., of Columbus, OH; Huzhou Yongji Wooden Co., Ltd., of China; Inter Source Trading Corporation of Canada; Jiangsu Lodgi Woods Industry Co. Ltd. of China; Lodgi North America, Inc., of Canada; Pacific Flooring Manufacture, Inc., of Foster City, CA; P.J. Flooring Distributor, of Monterey Park, CA; Power Dekor Group Co., Ltd., of China; Quality Craft, Ltd., of Canada; R.A.H. Carpet Supplies, Inc., of Wallington, NJ; Salvage Building Material, Inc., of Winston Salem, NC; Shanghai Dekorman Flooring Co., Ltd., of China; Shanghai Zhengrun Industry Development Co., Ltd., of China; Shengda Flooring Corp. of China; Stalheim Industries Sdn Bhd of Malaysia; Stalheim (USA), Inc., of Rowland Heights, CA; Tsailin Floorings, Inc., of China; Universal Floor Covering, Inc., of Fremont, CA; Vegas Laminate Hardwood Floors LLC of Las Vegas, NV; Vohringer Wood Product (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., of China; Yekalon Industry, Inc., of China; and Yingbin (Shunde-Foshan) Wood Industry Co., Ltd., of China. By instituting this investigation (337-TA-545), the ITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The case will be referred to the Honorable Paul J. Luckern, ITC administrative law judge, who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. Judge Luckern will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission. The ITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the ITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. ITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.