August 31, 2011
News Release 11-113
Inv. No. 337-TA-804
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain LED photographic lighting devices and components thereof. The products at issue in this investigation are lighting systems for use in television, broadcast news, and motion picture productions.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Litepanels, Ltd., of the United Kingdom and Litepanels, Inc., of Van Nuys, CA, on August 3, 2011. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain LED photographic lighting devices and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by the complainants. The complainants request that the USITC issue an exclusion order.

The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:

Flolight, LLC, of Campbell, CA;
Prompter People, Inc., of Campbell, CA;
IKAN Corporation of Houston, TX;
Advanced Business Computer Services, LLC, of Reno, NV;
Elation Lighting, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA;
Fotodiox, Inc., of Waukegan, IL;
Fuzhou F&V Photographic Equipment Co., Ltd., of China;
Yuyao Lishuai Photo-Facility Co., Ltd., of China;
Yuyao Fotodiox Photo Equipment Co., Ltd., of China;
Shantou Nanguang Photographic Equipment Co., Ltd., of China;
Visio Light, Inc., of Taiwan;
Tianjin Wuqing Huanyu Film and TV Equipment Factory of China;
Stellar Lighting Systems of Los Angeles, CA; and
Yuyao Lily Collection Co., Ltd., of China.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-804), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC's Acting Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's four administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ 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 USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC 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.