ITC Sets Partial Import Ban on Patent-Infringing Tattoo Needle Ink Cartridges

The International Trade Commission slapped a partial ban on imports of certain tattoo needle disposable ink cartridges, citing patent infringement-related violations of Section 337 by T-Tech Tattoo of Canada, and Yiwu Behond and Guangzhou Pengcheng of China. The ITC found the ink cartridges infringe patents held by MT.Derm and Nouveau Cosmetique, the two original complainants (see 12030722). The commission came to its decision after finding T-Tech, Yiwu and Guangzhou Pengcheng were all in default, because they purportedly didn’t fully participate in the investigation. The ITC’s limited exclusion order against unlicensed imports of infringing disposable ink cartridges from T-Tech, Yiwu, and Guanzhou Pengcheng will now begin a 60-day Presidential review period, during which the Obama administration may veto the order. The ITC set bond for imports of subject merchandise during the 60-day period at 100 percent of entered value.