UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`Washington, D.C.
`
`Before the Honorable Cameron Elliot
`Administrative Law Judge
`
`
`
`In the Matter of
`
`
`
`CERTAIN DIGITAL VIDEO-CAPABLE
`DEVICES AND COMPONENTS
`THEREOF
`
`
` Investigation No. 337-TA-1224
`
`
`COMMISSION INVESTIGATIVE STAFF’S RESPONSE TO COMPLAINANTS’
`MOTION FOR PARTIAL TERMINATION OF THE INVESTIGATION WITH
`RESPECT TO (1) CERTAIN ASSERTED CLAIMS OF THE ASSERTED
`PATENTS AND (2) THE ASSERTED ’977 PATENT IN ITS ENTIRETY
`[MOTION DOCKET NO. 1224-014]
`
`The Commission Investigative Staff (“Staff”) respectfully submits this response to
`
`“Complainants’ Motion For Partial Termination Of The Investigation With Respect To (1) Certain
`
`Asserted Claims Of The Asserted Patents And (2) The Asserted ‘977 Patent In Its Entirety”
`
`(“Complainants’ Motion”). Motion Docket No. 1224-014. By their motion, Complainants
`
`Koninklijke Philips N.V. and Philips North America LLC (collectively, “Philips” or
`
`“Complainants”) seek partial termination of the investigation with respect to (i) asserted claims 2,
`
`5, 6, 11, 12, 15, 17, 22, 23, 26, 49, 50, and 52-54 of U.S. Patent No. 9,436,809 (“the ‘809 Patent”);
`
`(ii) asserted claims 2-7, 13, and 15 of U.S. Patent No. 10,091,186 (“the ‘186 Patent”); (iii) asserted
`
`claims 2-11, 14, 20, and 22 of U.S. Patent No. 10,298,564 (“the ‘564 Patent”); and (iv) asserted
`
`claims 11, 12, and 14-20 of U.S. Patent No. 9,590,977 (“the ‘977 Patent”) against all Respondents
`
`
`
`1
`
`

`

`based on Complainants’ partial withdrawal of the Complaint as to these asserted claims only.1
`
`Complainants’ Motion, pp. 1, 5. For the reasons set forth below, the Staff supports Complainants’
`
`Motion.2
`
`Under Commission Rule 210.21(a)(1), “[a]ny party may move at any time prior to the
`
`issuance of an initial determination on violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 for an
`
`order to terminate an investigation in whole or in part as to any or all respondents on the basis of
`
`withdrawal of the complaint or certain allegations contained therein.” 19 C.F.R. §210.21(a)(1).
`
`Further, “if there are any agreements concerning the subject matter of the investigation, all such
`
`agreements shall be identified, and if written, a copy shall be filed with the Commission along
`
`with the motion.” Id.
`
`In determining whether to grant a motion to terminate an investigation on the basis of
`
`withdrawal of the complaint, Administrative Law Judges (“ALJs”) have held that, “in the absence
`
`of extraordinary circumstances, termination of the investigation will be readily granted to a
`
`complainant during the pre-hearing stage of the investigation.” Certain Periodontal Laser Devices,
`
`Components Thereof, and Advertisements Regarding the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-1070, Order No.
`
`7, pp. 1-2 (Jan. 3, 2018); see also Certain Backpack Chairs, Inv. No. 337-TA-1062, Order No. 5,
`
`p. 2 (Nov. 6, 2017); Certain Composite Intermediate Bulk Containers, Inv. No. 337-TA-1014,
`
`Order No. 13, p. 1 (Feb. 22, 2017).
`
`
`1 Complainants previously filed a motion for partial termination of the investigation with respect
`to claims 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10 of the ‘977 Patent, which motion was granted. See Motion Docket
`No. 1224-011 (March 26, 2021); Order No. 19 (March 29, 2021).
`
`2 Complainants have represented that no Respondent opposes Complainants’ Motion.
`Complainants’ Motion, p. 2.
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`In the Staff’s view, the partial termination of the investigation with respect to (i) asserted
`
`claims 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, 17, 22, 23, 26, 49, 50, and 52-54 of the ‘809 Patent; (ii) asserted claims
`
`2-7, 13, and 15 of the ‘186 Patent; (iii) asserted claims 2-11, 14, 20, and 22 of the ‘564 Patent; and
`
`(iv) asserted claims 11, 12, and 14-20 of the ‘977 Patent based on Complainants’ withdrawal of
`
`the Complaint as to these asserted claims is appropriate. In accordance with Commission Rule
`
`210.21(a)(1), Complainants (i) filed their motion prior to issuance of any initial determination on
`
`violation of Section 337, and (ii) included in their motion a statement indicating that “[t]here are
`
`no agreements, written or oral, express or implied, between Complainants and Respondents
`
`concerning the subject matter of the Investigation.”3 Complainants’ Motion, p. 4. In addition,
`
`Complainants also represented in their motion that “[n]o extraordinary circumstances exist that
`
`would prevent the partial termination of the Investigation as to certain asserted patent claims.” Id.
`
`The Staff is similarly not aware of any extraordinary circumstances that would preclude the
`
`requested relief. Moreover, as noted above, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) previously
`
`granted Motion Docket No. 1224-011 and determined that “no extraordinary circumstances exist
`
`that would prevent the partial termination of this Investigation as to certain asserted patent claims.”
`
`Order No. 19, p. 2.
`
`The Staff is also of the view that the requested relief is in the public interest. In particular,
`
`the partial termination of the investigation will conserve public resources and private resources,
`
`consistent with the public interest. See Certain Digital Television Set-Top Boxes, Remote Control
`
`Devices, and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1041, Order No. 16, pp. 2-3 (Aug. 11, 2017).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3 Complainants note that “[t]his statement is not intended to include stipulations entered into by
`any of the Respondents and Complainants during the course of the Investigation to streamline the
`case and facilitate discovery.” Complainants’ Motion, p. 4, n.3.
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`For the reasons set forth above, the Staff submits that Complainants’ Motion should be
`
`granted.
`
`
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`
`
`
` /s/ Vu Q. Bui
`Margaret D. Macdonald, Director
`David O. Lloyd, Supervisory Attorney
`Vu Q. Bui, Investigative Attorney
`
`
`
`
`
`OFFICE OF UNFAIR IMPORT INVESTIGATIONS
`U.S. International Trade Commission
`500 E Street SW, Suite 401
`Washington, DC 20436
`(202) 205-2582
`(202) 205-2158 (facsimile)
`
`
`April 14, 2021
`
`
`
`4
`
`

`

`Certain Digital Video Capable Devices
`and Components Thereof
`
`
`Inv. No. 337-TA-1224
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`I, Vu Bui, hereby certify that on this 14th day of April 2021, copies of the foregoing
`COMMISSION INVESTIGATIVE STAFF’S RESPONSE TO COMPLAINANTS’
`MOTION FOR PARTIAL TERMINATION OF THE INVESTIGATION WITH RESPECT
`TO (1) CERTAIN ASSERTED CLAIMS OF THE ASSERTED PATENTS AND (2) THE
`ASSERTED ’977 PATENT IN ITS ENTIRETY [MOTION DOCKET NO. 1224-014] were
`filed and served upon the following parties as indicated:
`
`
`The Honorable Lisa R. Barton
`Secretary
`U.S. International Trade Commission
`500 E Street, S.W.
`Washington, DC 20436
`
`The Honorable Cameron Elliot
`Administrative Law Judge
`U.S. International Trade Commission
`500 E Street, S.W.
`Washington, DC 20436
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Filing
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`Mary.Boswell@usitc.gov
`
`
`Counsel for Complainants Koninklijke Philips N.V. and Philips North America LLC
`
`Andrew H. DeVoogd
`Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and
`Popeo PC
`One Financial Center
`Boston, MA 02111
`
`
`Counsel for Respondent Intel Corporation
`
`James B. Coughlan
`Perkins Coie LLP
`700 Thirteenth Street N.W., Suite 800
`Washington, DC 20005-3960
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`PhilipsITC@mintz.com
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`EXTERNAL-
`IntelPhilipsITC@perkinscoie.com
`
`
`Counsel for Respondents Dell Technologies, Inc. and Dell Inc.
`
`Adam D. Swain
`Alston & Bird LLP
`950 F Street NW
`Washington, DC 20004
`
`
`
`
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`Dell-Philips-ITC@alston.com
`
`

`

`Certain Digital Video Capable Devices
`and Components Thereof
`
`Counsel for Respondent HP, Inc.
`
`Andrew R. Kopsidas
`Fish & Richardson P.C.
`1000 Maine Avenue, S.W., Suite 1000
`Washington, D.C. 20024
`
`Inv. No. 337-TA-1224
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`Service-HP/Philips-ITC@fr.com
`
`
`Counsel for Respondents Lenovo Group Ltd. and Lenovo (United States), Inc.
`
`Sean C. Cunningham
`DLA Piper LLP (US)
`401 B Street, Suite 1700
`San Diego, California 92101
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`DLA-Lenovo-Philips_ITC@us.dlapiper.com
`
`
`Counsel for Respondents LG Electronics Inc. and LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc.
`
`R. Andrew Schwentker
`Fish & Richardson P.C.
`1000 Maine Avenue, S.W., Suite 1000
`Washington, DC 20024
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`Service-LGE/Philips-ITC@fr.com
`
`
`Counsel for Respondents Mediatek Inc. and Mediatek USA, Inc.
`
`Joseph V. Colaianni, Jr.
`Fish & Richardson P.C.
`1000 Maine Avenue, S.W., Suite 1000
`Washington, DC 20024
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`Service-MTK/Philips-ITC@fr.com
`
`
`Counsel for Respondent Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
`
`Jordan Coyle
`Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
`1152 15th Street, N.W.
`Washington, D.C. 20005
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`1224-Realtek-Service@orrick.com
`
`
`
`
`
`- 2 -
`
`

`

`Certain Digital Video Capable Devices
`and Components Thereof
`
`Counsel for Respondents TCL Industries Holdings Co., Ltd., TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd.,
`TCL King Electrical Appliances (Huizhou) Co. Ltd., TTE Technology, Inc., TCL Moka
`International Ltd., TCL Moka Manufacturing S.A. de C.V., and TCL Smart Device (Vietnam)
`Company Ltd.
`
`Inv. No. 337-TA-1224
`
`John P. Schnurer
`Perkins Coie LLP
`11452 El Camino Real, Suite 300
`San Diego, CA 92130
`
` Via First Class Mail
` Via Hand Delivery
` Via Overnight Courier
` Via Electronic Mail
`PerkinsServiceTCL-Philips@perkinscoie.com
`
`
`Counsel for Respondents Hisense Co., Ltd.; Hisense Visual Technology Co., Ltd., Hisense
`Electronics Manufacturing Company of America Corporation, Hisense USA Corporation,
`Hisense Import & Export Co. Ltd., Hisense International Co., Ltd., Hisense International
`(HK) Co., Ltd., and Hisense International (Hong Kong) America Investment Co., Ltd.
`Timothy C. Bickham
` Via First Class Mail
`Steptoe & Johnson, LLP
` Via Hand Delivery
`1330 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
` Via Overnight Courier
`Washington, D.C. 20036
` Via Electronic Mail
`sj-hisense@Steptoe.com
`
`
`
`
`
`
`/s/ Vu Bui
`Vu Bui
`
`
`
`- 3 -
`
`