U.S. International Trade Commission to Investigate Ceramic Capacitors

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) announced Thursday that it would begin an investigation of certain ceramic capacitors and products containing the same. The federal agencys decision to investigate is based on a complaint filed by Murata Manufacturing of Japan and Murata Electronics North America. Respondents in the investigation are Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. of Korea and Samsung Electro-Mechanics America. The complaint by Murata alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 via the importation into the United States and sales of certain ceramic capacitors and products containing the same that infringe Murata patents. As a next step, one of the ITCs six administrative law judges will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing and make an initial determination about whether a violation of section 337 occurred. That determination is subject to review by the ITC. Within 45 days after instituting the investigation, the International Trade Commission will set a target date for completing the investigation.