The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain lip balm products, containers for lip balm, and components thereof.  The products at issue in the investigation are lip balm products included in generally spherical-shaped containers.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed on June 12, 2015 by eos Products, LLC, and The Kind Group, LLC, both of New York, NY.  The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain lip balm products, containers for lip balm, and components thereof that infringe a patent asserted by the complainants.  The complainants request that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.

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

OraLabs, Inc., of Parker, CO;
CVS Health Corporation, of Woonsocket, RI;
CVS Pharmacy, Inc., of Woonsocket, RI;
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., of Deerfield, IL;
Walgreen Co., of Deerfield, IL;
Dollar Tree, Inc., of Chesapeake, VA;
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., of Chesapeake, VA;
Five Below Inc., of Philadelphia, PA;
Wuxi Sunmart Science and Technology Co. Ltd., a/k/a Wuxi Sunmart Group Co., Ltd., a/k/a Wuxi Shengma Science & Technology Co., Ltd., of Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; and
Wuxi Sunmart Plastic Co., Ltd., of Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-961), 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.