Certain Aerospace Rivets and Products Containing Same; Notice of Investigation

AGENCY:

U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Institution of investigation pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1337.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on December 26, 2000, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of Allfast Fastening Systems, Inc. of City of Industry, California. A supplement to the complaint was filed on January 11, 2001. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain aerospace rivets and products containing same by reason of infringement of common law trademarks “BRFR” and “BRFZ,” dilution of the “BRFR” and “BRFZ” trademarks, infringement of claims 1-6 of U.S. Letters Patent 5,580,202, and unfair competition by means of false designation of origin and false description. The complaint further alleges that there exists in the United States an industry as required by subsections (a)(1)(A) and (a)(2) of section 337.

The complainant requests that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a permanent exclusion order and a permanent cease and desist order.

ADDRESSES:

The complaint, except for any confidential information contained therein, is available for inspection during official business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20436, telephone 202-205-2000. 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 (http://www.usitc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas S. Fusco, Esq., Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone 202-205-2571.

Authority: The authority for institution of this investigation is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and in section 210.10 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2000).

Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. International Trade Commission, on January 18, 2001, Ordered That—

(1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, an investigation be instituted to determine:

(a) whether there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(A) 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 aerospace rivets or products containing same by reason of infringement of common law trademarks “BRFR” or “BRFZ,” dilution of the “BRFR” or “BRFZ” trademarks, or unfair competition by means of false designation of origin or false description, the threat or effect of which is to destroy or substantially injure an industry in the United States; or

(b) 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 aerospace rivets or products containing same by reason of infringement of claims 1-6 of U.S. Letters Patent 5,580,202, and whether there exists an industry in the United States as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337.

(2) 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: Allfast Fastening Systems, Inc., 15200 Don Julian Road, City of Industry, California 91745;

(b) The respondent is the following company alleged to be in violation of section 337, and is the party upon which the complaint is to be served: Ateliers De La Haute Garonne ets Auriol et Cie., S.A., Z.I. Flourens, B.P. 3, F-31131, Balma-Toulouse, France;

(c) Thomas S. Fusco, Esq., Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Room 401-O, Washington, DC 20436, who shall be the Commission investigative attorney, party to this investigation; and

(3) For the investigation so instituted, the Honorable Sidney Harris is designated as the presiding administrative law judge.

A response to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be submitted by the named respondent 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(d) and 210.13(a), such response will be considered by the Commission if received no later than 20 days after the date of service by the Commission of the complaint and notice of investigation. Extensions of time for submitting a response to the complaint will not be granted unless good cause therefor is shown.

Failure of the 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 both an initial determination and a final determination containing such findings, and may result in the issuance of a limited exclusion order or a cease and desist order or both directed against such respondent.