September 9, 2011
News Release 11-118
Inv. No. 337-TA-805
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain devices for improving uniformity used in a backlight module and components thereof and products containing the same. The products at issue in this investigation are several families of LCD displays.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan and ITRI International, Inc., of San Jose, CA, on August 10, 2011. The complaints allege violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain devices for improving uniformity used in a backlight module and components thereof and products containing the same that infringe a patent asserted by the complainants. The complainants request that the USITC issue an exclusion order and a cease and desist order.

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

LG Corporation of South Korea;
LG Electronics Inc. of South Korea; and
LG Electronics, U.S.A., of Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-805), 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.