Merchant & Gould P.C., a national technology and trial law firm, is pleased to announce a crucial victory for our clients TYC Brother Co., Ltd. and Genera Corp. before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). In a pair of investigations concerning design patents related to automotive lamps, the ITC found no violation of section 337 by TYC Brother and Genera based on Complainants Hyundai’s and Kia’s failure to satisfy the ITC’s domestic industry requirement.
Merchant and its co-counsel Holland Law LLP were retained to defend TYC Brother and Genera against twin complaints filed with the ITC by automotive manufacturers Hyundai and Kia. The complaints asserted a combined 41 design patents against TYC Brother and Genera’s replacement headlights and taillights and sought orders that would have stopped all imports and domestic sales of those products.
An early evidentiary hearing was ordered under the ITC's early disposition pilot program to determine whether the complainants satisfied the ITC’s domestic industry requirement. These investigations are the only ones to date for which the pilot program has been used.
Merchant identified numerous flaws in the complainants’ domestic industry evidence and analysis and developed a comprehensive record supporting our clients' positions. Following the ALJ’s initial determination, Merchant obtained full review by the ITC and submitted extensive briefing.
After considerable deliberations, the ITC agreed with Merchant, concluding that the complainants failed to satisfy the domestic industry requirement as to all 41 asserted patents. As a result, the ITC terminated the investigations with findings of no violation by TYC Brother and Genera, enabling their accused lamps to remain available to U.S. consumers, securing their access to high-value replacement parts.
"We are thrilled with the ITC's ruling in favor of our clients, TYC Brother Co., Ltd. and Genera Corp. From the outset, we were confident in our case and in the merits of our clients' position. This outcome underscores the importance of thorough domestic industry analysis in section 337 investigations. And it is a significant win, both for the Respondents and for U.S. consumers who will continue to have access to high-quality, affordable automotive parts," said Josh Hartman, Lead Counsel at Merchant & Gould.
