Notice2023-12314
Certain Photovoltaic Connectors and Components Thereof; Institution of Investigation
Primary source
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Published
June 9, 2023
Issuing agencies
International Trade Commission
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on May 4, 2023, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of Shoals Technologies Group, LLC of Portland, Tennessee. A supplement to the complaint was filed on May 12, 2023. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain photovoltaic connectors and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,553,739 (" '739 Patent") and U.S. Patent No. 10,992,254 (" '254 Patent"). The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by the applicable Federal Statute. The complainant requests that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 111 (Friday, June 9, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37905-37906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12314]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 337-TA-1365]
Certain Photovoltaic Connectors and Components Thereof;
Institution of Investigation
AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the
U.S. International Trade Commission on May 4, 2023, under section 337
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of Shoals Technologies
Group, LLC of Portland, Tennessee. A supplement to the complaint was
filed on May 12, 2023. The complaint alleges violations of section 337
based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for
importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of
certain photovoltaic connectors and components thereof by reason of
infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,553,739 (`` '739
Patent'') and U.S. Patent No. 10,992,254 (`` '254 Patent''). The
complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists
as required by the applicable Federal Statute. The complainant requests
that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the
investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist
orders.
ADDRESSES: The complaint, except for any confidential information
contained therein, may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket
(EDIS) at <a href="https://edis.usitc.gov">https://edis.usitc.gov</a>. For help accessing EDIS, please email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4702030e14740f222b370732342e332469202831"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2560616c76166d4049556550564c51460b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the
Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810. Persons with mobility
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 205-
2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be
obtained by accessing its internet server at <a href="https://www.usitc.gov">https://www.usitc.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pathenia M. Proctor, The Office of
Unfair Import Investigations, (202) 205-2560.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: The authority for institution of this investigation is
contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19
U.S.C. 1337, and in section 210.10 of the Commission's Rules of
Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2023).
Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S.
International Trade Commission, on June 5, 2023, ordered that--
(1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of
1930, as amended, an investigation be instituted to determine whether
there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337 in the
importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or the
sale within the United States after importation of certain products
identified in paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one or more of
claims 1-13 and 15-18 of the '739 patent and claims 1-15 of the '254
patent, and whether an industry in the United States exists as required
by subsection (a)(2) of section 337;
(2) Pursuant to section 210.10(b)(1) of the Commission's Rules of
Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10(b)(1), the plain language
description of the accused products or category of accused products,
which defines the scope of the investigation, is ``photovoltaic wire
harnesses or string harnesses that contain one or more inline fuses,
in-line fuse kits, and assemblies for connecting solar panel arrays to
an inverter, which assemblies are called lead assemblies or trunk
buses, and which may also include one or more in-line fuses'';
(3) For the purpose of the investigation so instituted, the
following are hereby named as parties upon which this notice of
investigation shall be served:
(a) The complainant is:
Shoals Technologies Group, LLC, 1400 Shoals Way, Portland, Tennessee
37148
(b) The respondents are the following entities alleged to be in
violation of section 337, and are the parties upon which the complaint
is to be served:
Hikam America, Inc., 3521 Main St. #501, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Hikam Electr[oacute]nica de M[eacute]xico, S.A. de C.V., Carretera A
San Luis No. Km. 10.5, Las Californias Industrial Park, Mexicali, Baja
California 21394, Mexico.
[[Page 37906]]
Hikam Tecnologia de Sinaloa, International Road Guasave, Los Mochis No.
Km. 2.5 Industrial Zone, Guasave, Sinaloa 81149, Mexico
Hewtech Philippines Corp., Lot C2-9, Carmelray Industrial Park II,
Laguna, 4027 Philippines
Hewtech Philippines Electronics Corp., TECO Industrial Park, Ninoy
Aquino Highway, Bundagul Mabalacat, Pampanga, 2010 Philippines
Hewtech (Shenzhen) Electronics Co., Ltd., Block 5 and Block 6, 172
Hengpailing Estate, Wu Tong Shan, Luo Hu District, Shenzhen, 518114
China
Voltage, LLC, 450 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 208, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Ningbo Voltage Smart Production Co., No. 201 Bldg. 5 (14) Miaofengshan
Rd., Beilun District, 57020 Ningbo, China
(c) The Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International
Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20436; and
(4) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative
Law Judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the
presiding Administrative Law Judge.
Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be
submitted by the named respondents in accordance with section 210.13 of
the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.13.
Pursuant to 19 CFR 201.16(e) and 210.13(a), as amended in 85 FR 15798
(March 19, 2020), such responses will be considered by the Commission
if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the
complainant of the complaint and the notice of investigation.
Extensions of time for submitting responses to the complaint and the
notice of investigation will not be granted unless good cause therefor
is shown.
Failure of a respondent to file a timely response to each
allegation in the complaint and in this notice may be deemed to
constitute a waiver of the right to appear and contest the allegations
of the complaint and this notice, and to authorize the administrative
law judge and the Commission, without further notice to the respondent,
to find the facts to be as alleged in the complaint and this notice and
to enter an initial determination and a final determination containing
such findings, and may result in the issuance of an exclusion order or
a cease and desist order or both directed against the respondent.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: June 5, 2023.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2023-12314 Filed 6-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
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