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News Release 24-035
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1399
Contact: Philip Stone, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain fiber-optic connectors, adapters, jump cables, patch cords, products containing the same, and components thereof. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.
The investigation is based on a complaint filed by US Conec, Ltd. of Hickory, NC, on March 22, 2024, and supplemented on April 12, 2024. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain fiber-optic connectors, adapters, jump cables, patch cords, products containing the same, and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by the complainant. The complainant requests 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 respondents in this investigation:
- Senko Advance Co., Ltd. of Yokkaichi City, Japan,
- Senko Advanced Components, Inc. of Hudson, MA,
- Eaton Corp. of Dublin, Ireland,
- Tripp Lite Holdings, Inc. of Woodridge, IL,
- FS.com Inc. of New Castle, DE,
- Infinite Electronics, Inc. of Irvine, CA,
- L-com, Inc. of North Andover, MA,
- Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. of Osaka, Japan,
- Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp. of Raleigh, NC,
- Sumitomo Electric U.S.A., Inc. of Torrance, CA,
- EZconn Corp. of New Taipei City, Taiwan,
- Flexoptix GmbH of Darmstadt, Germany,
- Changzhou Co-Net Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. of Changzhou, China,
- Shenzhen UnitekFiber Solution Ltd. of Shenzhen, China,
- Hubbell Inc. of Shelton, CT,
- Hubbell Premise Wiring, Inc. of Shelton, CT,
- Shenzhen IH Optics Co., Ltd. of Shenzhen, China,
- Rayoptic Communication Co., Ltd of Shenzhen, China, and
- HuNan Surfiber Technology Co., Ltd. of Changsha, China.
By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1399), 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.