ITC Section 337 final determination and general exclusion order (Inv. 337-TA-1453): certain boiler protection for absorption refrigeration systems barred from import
The USITC has found a Section 337 violation and issued a general exclusion order (GEO) prohibiting the importation of certain boiler protection for absorption refrigeration systems and components thereof that infringe claims 1, 4, 6 and 10 of U.S. Patent No. 8,056,360, along with cease-and-desist orders against seven defaulting respondents, all Chinese companies; the investigation is terminated (91 FR 60640). A GEO applies regardless of who imports the products — entry of any infringing articles within the scope is barred, and importers must show their goods fall outside the patent claims to secure release. This is an IP-based import-relief order: it bars the infringing products from importation and changes no tariff rates; exporters to the U.S. of automotive cooling-system maintenance products (e.g. coolant supplement-type items) should assess whether their products fall within the patent claims. No specific values are given, see the FR text.
Scope
Certain boiler protection for absorption refrigeration systems and components thereof (per the GEO scope)