`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`
`Washington, D.C.
`
`
`
`
`
`In the Matter of
`
`CERTAIN FLOCKED SWABS, PRODUCTS
`CONTAINING FLOCKED SWABS, AND
`METHODS OF USING SAME
`
`Investigation No. 337-TA-1279
`
`CONSENT ORDER
`
`The United States International Trade Commission (“Commission”) instituted the above
`
`captioned investigation (“Investigation”) based on the allegations contained in the Complaint filed
`
`by Complainants Copan Italia S.p.A. and Copan Industries, Inc. (together “Copan” or
`
`“Complainants”) on September 2, 2021. See 86 Fed. Reg. 49343 (Sept. 2, 2021). The
`
`supplemented Complaint alleges a violation of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
`
`amended, based on the alleged importation into the United States, sale for importation, and/or sale
`
`within the United States after importation of certain flocked swabs, products containing flocked
`
`swabs, and methods of using the same that infringe one or more claims of U.S. Patent Nos.
`
`9,011,358 (“the ’358 patent”), 9,173,779 (“the ’779 patent”), and 10,327,741 (“the ’741 patent”)
`
`(collectively, the “Asserted Patents”). See id. The Complaint names 26 proposed Respondents,
`
`including KSL Biomedical, Inc. and KSL Diagnostics, Inc. (together “KSL”). See id.
`
`NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission issues the following Consent Order:
`
`1.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(i), the Complainants in this Investigation are
`
`Copan Italia S.p.A. and Copan Industries, Inc. (together, “Copan”). Copan Italia S.p.A. (“Copan
`
`1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Italia”) is a public company under the laws of Italy, having an address of Via F. Perotti 10, 25125,
`
`Brescia, Italy. Copan Industries, Inc. (“Copan Industries”), a private company, owned 90% by
`
`Copan Italia, is organized under the laws of Puerto Rico, having a physical address of Carr. 110
`
`Km. 28.8, San Antonio Industrial Park, Aguadilla, PR 00603, and having a postal address of 1068
`
`Ave. General Ramey, #789 San Antonio, PR 00690.
`
`2.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(i), the Respondents covered by this Consent
`
`Order are KSL Biomedical, Inc., a Delaware Corporation with a principal place of business at 1000
`
`Youngs Rd., Ste 210, Williamsville, New York 14221-2644 and KSL Diagnostics, Inc., a Delaware
`
`Corporation with a principal place of business at 1000 Youngs Rd., Ste 210, Williamsville, New
`
`York 14221-2644.
`
`3.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(i), the subject articles in this Investigation are
`
`certain flocked swabs, products containing flocked swabs, and methods of using the same,
`
`specifically the KSL Disposable Swab, 52014: KSL NP/OP Swab, that have been imported into
`
`the United States, sold for importation, and/or sold within the United States after importation
`
`(collectively, “the Subject Articles”).
`
`4.
`
`The Complaint alleges that KSL imports into the United States, sells for
`
`importation, and/or sells within the United States after importation, certain flocked swabs, products
`
`containing flocked swabs, and methods of using the same that infringe Claims 1, 6-9, 11-13, 14,
`
`16-19, and 21-22 of the ’358 patent, Claims 1, 4-6, 8-9, 11-12, 13, 16-20, and 22-24 of the ’779
`
`patent, and Claims 1, 3, 5, 7-10, 18, and 20 of the ’741 patent (collectively, “the Asserted Claims”).
`
`5.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(ii), KSL has executed a Corrected Consent
`
`Order Stipulation.
`
`2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`6.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(iii), KSL shall not sell for importation, import,
`
`or sell after importation the Subject Articles, directly or indirectly, and shall not aid, abet,
`
`encourage, participate in, or induce the sale for importation, the importation, or the sale after
`
`importation except under consent or license from Copan, provided, however, that KSL has the
`
`express consent from Copan to exhaust its current inventory of the Subject Articles.
`
`7.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(iv), KSL shall have the right to exhaust its
`
`current inventory the Subject Articles, and such exhaustion of the inventory shall not constitute a
`
`breach, violation, or contempt of the Consent Order Stipulation or this Consent Order.
`
`8.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(v), KSL shall cease and desist from importing
`
`the Subject Articles.
`
`9.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(vi), KSL shall be precluded from seeking
`
`judicial review or otherwise challenging or contesting the validity of the Consent Order.
`
`10.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(vii), KSL shall cooperate with and shall not
`
`seek to impede by litigation or other means the Commission’s efforts to gather information under
`
`Subpart I of 19 C.F.R. Part 210.
`
`11.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(viii), KSL and its officers, directors,
`
`employees, agents, and any other entity or individual acting on its behalf and with its authority
`
`shall not seek to challenge the validity or enforceability of any of the Asserted Claims in any
`
`administrative or judicial proceeding to enforce the Consent Order.
`
`12.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(ix), when any of the Asserted Patents expire,
`
`the Consent Order will become null and void as to such Asserted Patent(s).
`
`13.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(x), if any of the Asserted Claims are held
`
`invalid or unenforceable by a court or agency of competent jurisdiction, or if any of the Subject
`
`3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Articles have been found or adjudicated not to infringe any of the Asserted Claims in a final
`
`decision, no longer subject to appeal, this Consent Order shall become null and void as to such
`
`invalid or unenforceable Asserted Claim or such adjudicated Subject Article(s).
`
`14.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(xi), KSL admits that the Commission has (a)
`
`in personam jurisdiction over it for the purposes of the Stipulation and this Consent Order, (b) in
`
`rem jurisdiction over the Subject Articles, and (c) subject matter jurisdiction over this
`
`Investigation.
`
`15.
`
`Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(4)(xii), this Investigation is hereby terminated
`
`with respect to KSL; provided, however, that enforcement, modification, or revocation of the
`
`Consent Order shall be carried out pursuant to Subpart I of 19 C.F.R. Part 210.
`
`By order of the Commission
`
`
`
`
`
`Issued: December 6, 2021
`
`
`
`
`Lisa R. Barton
`Secretary to the Commission
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`