Certain Foam Masking Tape; Notice of Investigation

Résumé

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on November 24, 2004, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of 3M Company, 3M Innovative Properties Company, both of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Jean Silvestre of Hamoir, Belgium. An amended complaint was filed on December 13, 2004. The amended 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 foam masking tape by reason of infringement of claims 1-4, 7-10, 13, 16-21 and 23-24 of U.S. Patent No. 4,996,092, and claims 1, 3, 4, 6-8, 10-11, 13, 14 and 16 of U.S. Patent No. 5,260,097. The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337. The complainants request that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a permanent exclusion order and permanent cease and desist orders.