Certain Agricultural Vehicles and Components Thereof; Notice of Commission Decision To Extend the Time To Determine Whether To Review an Initial Determination and To Extend the Target Date

AGENCY:

International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has decided to extend to March 29, 2004, the time to determine whether to review the presiding administrative law judge's (“ALJ's”) final initial determination (“ID”) finding a violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the above-captioned investigation. The Commission has also decided to extend the target date for completing the investigation to May 13, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wayne Herrington, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-3090. Copies of the ALJ's ID and all other nonconfidential documents filed in connection with this investigation are or will be 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., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server ( http://www.usitc.gov ). The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS-ON-LINE) at http://edis.usitc.gov . 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:

The Commission instituted this investigation on February 13, 2003, based on a complaint filed by Deere & Company (“Deere”) of Moline, Illinois. 68 FR 7388 (February 13, 2003). The complaint, as supplemented, alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States, sale for importation, and sale within the United States after importation of certain agricultural vehicles and components thereof by reason of infringement and dilution of U.S. Registered Trademarks Nos. 1,254,339; 1,502,103; 1,503,576; and 91,860.

On August 27, 2003, the Commission issued notice that it had determined not to review Order No. 14, granting complainant's motion to amend the complaint and notice of investigation to add U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2,729,766.

On November 14, 2003, the Commission issued notice that it had determined not to review Order No. 29, granting complainant's motion for summary determination that complainant had met the technical prong of the domestic industry requirement.

Twenty-four respondents were named in the Commission's notice of investigation. Several of these have been terminated from the investigation on the basis of consent orders. Several other respondents have been found to be in default.

On January 13, 2004, the ALJ issued his final initial determination finding a violation of section 337. He also recommended the issuance of remedial orders. Two groups of respondents have petitioned for review of the ID. Complainant and the Commission investigative attorney have filed oppositions to those petitions.

This action is taken under the authority of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and sections 210.42 and 210.51 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.42, 210.51).