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News Release 18-036
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1106
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain toner cartridges and components thereof. The products at issue in the investigation are replaceable toner cartridges and photosensitive drum units contained in or sold for use in such cartridges.
The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Canon Inc. of Tokyo, Japan; Canon U.S.A., Inc., of Melville, NY; and Canon Virginia, Inc., of Newport News, VA, on February 28, 2018. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain toner cartridges and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by the complainants. The complainants request that the USITC issue a general exclusion order, or in the alternative a limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders.
The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:
Ninestar Corporation of Guangdong, China;
Ninestar Image Tech Limited of Guangdong, China;
Ninestar Technology Company, Ltd., of City of Industry, CA;
Apex Microtech Ltd. of Hong Kong;
Static Control Components, Inc., of Sanford, NC;
Aster Graphics, Inc., of Placentia, CA;
Jiangxi Yibo E-tech Co., Ltd., of Xinyu City, Jiangxi, China;
Aster Graphics Co., Ltd., of Guangdong, China;
Print-Rite Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong;
Print-Rite N.A., Inc., of La Vergne, TN;
Union Technology Int’l (M.C.O.) Co. Ltd. of Rodrigues, Macau;
Print-Rite Unicorn Image Products Co. Ltd. of Zhuhai, China;
Kingway Image Co., Ltd. d/b/a Zhu Hai Kingway Image Co., Ltd., of Zhuhai, China;
Ourway Image Tech. Co., Ltd., of Zhuhai, China;
Ourway Image Co., Ltd., of Zhuhai, China;
Zhuhai Aowei Electronics Co., Ltd., of Zhuhai, China;
Ourway US Inc. of City of Industry, CA;
Acecom, Inc. - San Antonio d/b/a InkSell.com of San Antonio, TX;
ACM Technologies, Inc., of Corona, CA;
Arlington Industries, Inc., of Waukegan, IL;
Bluedog Distribution Inc. of Hollywood, FL;|
Do It Wiser LLC d/b/a Image Toner of Alpharetta, GA;
EIS Office Solutions, Inc., of Houston, TX;
eReplacements, LLC, of Grapevine, TX;
Frontier Imaging Inc. of Compton, CA;
Garvey’s Office Products, Inc., of Niles, IL;
Global Cartridges of Burlingame, CA;
GPC Trading Co., Limited d/b/a GPC Image of Hong Kong;
Hong Kong BoZe Co., Limited d/b/a Greensky of Hong Kong;
Master Print Supplies, Inc. d/b/a HQ Products of Burlingame, CA;
i8 International, Inc. d/b/a Ink4Work.com of City of Industry, CA;
Ink Technologies Printer Supplies, LLC, of Dayton, OH;
LD Products, Inc., of Long Beach, CA;
Linkyo Corp. d/b/a SuperMediaStore.com of La Puente, CA;
CLT Computers, Inc. d/b/a Multiwave and MWave of Walnut, CA;
Imaging Supplies Investors, LLC d/b/a SuppliesOutlet.com, SuppliesWholesalers.com, and OnlineTechStores.com of Reno, NV;
Online Tech Stores, LLC d/b/a SuppliesOutlet.com, SuppliesWholesalers.com, and OnlineTechStores.com of Grand Rapids, MI;
Kuhlmann Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Precision Roller of Phoenix, AZ;
Print After Print, Inc. d/b/a OutOfToner.com of Phoenix, AZ;
Fairland, LLC d/b/a ProPrint of Anaheim Hills, CA;
Reliable Imaging Computer Products, Inc., of Northridge, CA;
Apex Excel Limited d/b/a ShopAt247 of Rowland Heights, CA;
The Supplies Guys, LLC, of Lancaster, PA;
Billiontree Technology USA Inc. d/b/a Toner Kingdom of City of Industry, CA;
FTrade Inc. d/b/a ValueToner of Staten Island, NY;
V4INK, Inc., of Ontario, CA;
World Class Ink Supply, Inc., of Woodbury, NJ;
9010-8077 Quebec Inc. d/b/a Zeetoner of Quebec, Canada; and
Zinyaw LLC d/b/a TonerPirate.com and Supply District of Houston, TX.
By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1106), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC’s 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.