Notice2025-16799

Certain Artificial Eyelash Extension Systems, Products, and Components Thereof; Notice of Commission Determination To Grant a Joint Motion To Terminate the Investigation

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Published
September 3, 2025

Issuing agencies

International Trade Commission

Abstract

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined to grant a joint motion to terminate the remand investigation in its entirety based on settlement. The remand investigation is terminated.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 168 (Wednesday, September 3, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 168 (Wednesday, September 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42612-42613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-16799]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-1226 (Remand)]


Certain Artificial Eyelash Extension Systems, Products, and 
Components Thereof; Notice of Commission Determination To Grant a Joint 
Motion To Terminate the Investigation

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade 
Commission has determined to grant a joint motion to terminate the 
remand investigation in its entirety based on settlement. The remand 
investigation is terminated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynde Herzbach, Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-3228. Copies of non-
confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation 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#91d4d5d8c2a2d9f4fde1d1e4e2f8e5f2bff6fee7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98dddcd1cbabd0fdf4e8d8edebf1ecfbb6fff7ee">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. 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>. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on 
this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
on (202) 205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 28, 2020, the Commission 
instituted this investigation under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337 (``section 337''), based on a 
complaint filed by Lashify, Inc. of Glendale, California (``Lashify''). 
See 85 FR 68366-67 (Oct. 28, 2020). The complaint, as supplemented, 
alleges a violation of section 337 based upon the importation into the 
United States, sale for importation, or sale after importation into the 
United States of certain artificial eyelash extension systems, 
products, and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain 
claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 10,660,388 (``the '388 patent'') and 
10,721,984 (``the '984 patent''), and the sole claims of U.S. Design 
Patent Nos. D877,416 (``the D'416 patent'') and D867,664 (``the D'664 
patent''), respectively (collectively, the ``Asserted Patents''). The 
complaint also alleges the existence of a domestic industry. The notice 
of investigation (``NOI'') names nine respondents, including: KISS Nail 
Products, Inc. of Port Washington, New York (``KISS''); Ulta Beauty, 
Inc. of Bolingbrook, Illinois (``Ulta''); CVS Health Corporation of 
Woonsocket, Rhode Island (``CVS''); Walmart, Inc. of Bentonville, 
Arkansas (``Walmart''); Qingdao Hollyren Cosmetics Co., Ltd. d/b/a 
Hollyren of Shandong Province, China; Qingdao Xizi International 
Trading Co., Ltd. d/b/a Xizi Lashes of Shandong Province, China; 
Qingdao LashBeauty Cosmetic Co., Ltd. d/b/a Worldbeauty of Qingdao, 
China; Alicia Zeng d/b/a Lilac St. and Artemis Family Beginnings, Inc. 
of San Francisco, California; and Rachael Gleason d/b/a Avant Garde 
Beauty Co. of Dallas, Texas (collectively, ``Respondents''). Id. The 
Office of Unfair Import Investigations (``OUII'') is also a party to 
the investigation. Id.
    The Commission later amended the complaint and NOI to substitute 
CVS Pharmacy, Inc. of Woonsocket, Rhode Island in place of named 
respondent CVS Health Corporation and Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & 
Fragrance, Inc. of Bolingbrook, Illinois in place of named respondent 
Ulta Beauty, Inc. See Order No. 10, unreviewed by Comm'n Notice (Feb. 
10, 2021); see also 86 FR 9535 (Feb. 16, 2021).
    The Commission later terminated the investigation as to claims 2-4 
and 7 of the '388 patent and claims 6-8, 12, 18-19, 25-26, and 29 of 
the '984 patent based on Complainant's partial withdrawal of the 
complaint. See Order No. 24 (Apr. 23, 2021), unreviewed by Comm'n 
Notice (May 11, 2021). The Commission also previously terminated claims 
2-5, 10-11, 14, 17, 21-22, and 24 of the '984 patent from the 
investigation. See Order No. 38 (June 22, 2021), unreviewed by Comm'n 
Notice (July 6, 2021).
    The Commission later terminated Rachael Gleason d/b/a Avant Garde 
Beauty Company from the investigation based on a Consent Order. See 
Order No. 28, unreviewed by Comm'n Notice (May 20, 2021).
    The Commission later determined that Lashify failed to satisfy the 
technical prong of the domestic industry requirement for the '388 
patent, thus terminating that patent from the investigation. See Order 
No. 35, unreviewed by Comm'n Notice (July 9, 2021).
    On October 6, 2022, the Commission issued a final determination 
finding no violation of section 337 as to any Asserted Patent and 
terminated the investigation. 87 FR 62455-56 (Oct. 14, 2022). 
Specifically, with respect to the '984 patent, the Commission 
determined to: (1) find that Lashify has failed to satisfy the 
technical prong of the domestic industry requirement; and (2) take no 
position regarding whether claims 1, 9, 23, and 27 of the '984 patent 
are invalid for obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103. The Commission further 
found that Lashify failed to satisfy the economic prong of the domestic 
industry requirement for any of the Asserted Patents.\1\
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    \1\ Chair Karpel and Commissioner Schmidtlein dissented from the 
majority's decision as to the economic prong of the domestic 
industry requirement.
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    Lashify timely appealed the Commission's final determination to the 
Federal Circuit. Lashify v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, Appeal No. 2023-1245. 
Respondents intervened in the appeal.
    On March 5, 2025, the Federal Circuit vacated the Commission's 
determination as to the economic prong of the domestic industry 
requirement for all three Asserted Patents and affirmed the 
Commission's determination that Lashify failed to satisfy the technical 
prong of the domestic industry requirement for the '984 patent. Lashify 
v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 130 F.4th 948 (Fed. Cir. 2025). The Court 
remanded for the Commission to determine whether there is ``significant 
employment of labor or capital'' with respect to the two design 
patents, the D'416 and D'664 patents.
    The Commission filed a combined petition for panel rehearing and 
rehearing en banc, which the Court denied on June 25, 2025. Lashify v. 
Int'l Trade Comm'n, Appeal No. 2023-1245, ECF No. 128 (June 25, 2025).
    On July 2, 2025, the Court issued its formal mandate returning 
jurisdiction to the Commission for further proceedings.
    On July 30, 2025, the Commission issued a notice seeking written 
submissions regarding what further proceedings must be conducted on 
remand. Comm'n Notice (July 30, 2025).
    On August 7, 2024, the two remaining respondents, Qingdao Hollyren

[[Page 42613]]

Cosmetics Co., Ltd. d/b/a Hollyren and Qingdao Xizi International 
Trading Co., Ltd. d/b/a Xizi Lashes (collectively, ``Hollyren'') and 
Lashify filed a ``Joint Motion to Terminate the Investigation as to 
Respondents [Hollyren] Based on the Moving Parties' Settlement 
Agreement and Consent Arbitration Award Under 19 CFR 210.21(b).'' 
Exhibits to the motion included confidential and public versions of the 
settlement agreement. The motion further included a statement that 
``there are no other agreements, written or oral, express or implied 
between Lashify and Hollyren concerning the subject matter of this 
Investigation.'' The motion also served as the parties' response to the 
Commission's July 30, 2025 Notice. That same day, OUII filed a response 
to the July 30 Notice, stating that the motion, if granted, would 
obviate the need for further proceedings. OUII also filed a separate 
response in support of the motion.
    The Commission has determined that the motion complies with the 
requirements of Commission Rule 210.21(b)(1) (19 CFR 210.21(b)(1)), and 
that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would prevent the 
requested termination. The Commission also finds that granting the 
motion would not be contrary to the public interest pursuant to 
Commission Rule 210.50(b)(2) (19 CFR 210.50(b)(2)). Accordingly, the 
Commission hereby grants the motion.
    The remand investigation is terminated.
    The Commission vote for this determination took place on August 28, 
2025.
    The authority for the Commission's determination is contained in 
section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, and 
in Part 210 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 
part 210.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: August 28, 2025.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2025-16799 Filed 9-2-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on September 3, 2025.

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