ITC Votes to Institute Investigation on Sintered Rare Earth Magnets
The International Trade Commission voted to institute an investigation of certain sintered rare earth magnets, methods of making same, and products containing same (337-TA-855). The products at issue are rare earth magnets and products incorporating rare earth magnets, such as motors, audio speakers, headphones, cordless tools, computer hard drives, and golf ball markers.
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The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Hitachi Metals of Japan, and Hitachi Metals North Carolina on Aug. 17. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the import into the U.S. and sale of certain sintered rare earth magnets, methods of making same, and products containing same that infringe patents asserted by the complainants. 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:
Yantai Zhenghai Magnetic Material Co., Ltd., of China; Ningbo Jinji Strong Magnetic Material Co., Ltd., of China; Earth-Panda Advance Magnetic Material Co., Ltd., of China; Skullcandy, Inc., of San Clemente, Calif.; Beats Electronics, LLC, of Santa Monica, Calif.; Monster Cable Products, Inc., of Brisbane, Calif.; Bose Corp. of Framingham, Mass.; Callaway Golf Co. of Carlsbad, Calif.; Taylor Made Golf Co. of Carlsbad, Calif.; Adidas America, Inc., of Portland, Ore.; Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. of Brookfield, Wis.; Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong; DeWalt Industrial Tool Corp. of Towson, Md; Electro-Voice, Inc., of Burnsville, Minn.; Shure Inc. of Niles, Ill.; AKG Acoustics GmbH of Austria; Harman International Industries of Stamford, Conn.; Maxon Precision Motors, Inc., of Fall River, Mass.; Dr. Fritz Faulhaber GmBH & Co. KG of Germany; Micromo Electronics, Inc., of Clearwater, Fla.; TELEX Communications, Inc., of Burnsville, Minn.; Bosch Security Systems, Inc., of Burnsville, Minn.; Electro-Optics Technology, Inc., of Traverse City, Mich.; Nexteer Automotive Corp. of Saginaw, Mich.; Bunting Magnetics Co. of Newton, Kan.; Viona Corp. of Syosset, N.Y.; Allstar Magnetics LLC of Vancouver, Wash.; Dura Magnetics Inc. of Sylvania, Ohio; and Integrated Magnetics, Inc., of Culver City, Calif.
(See ITT's Online Archives 12082014 for summary of the original complaint, and 12082217 for summary of ITC's request for comments relating to the complaint.)