On February 22, 2021, the ITC issued notices of investigation in Certain Cellular Signal Boosters, Repeaters, Bi-Directional Amplifiers, and Components Thereof (I) (Inv. No. 337-TA-1249); Certain Cellular Signal Boosters, Repeaters, Bi-Directional Amplifiers, and Components Thereof (II) (Inv. No. 337-TA-1250); and Certain Cellular Signal Boosters, Repeaters, Bi-Directional Amplifiers, and Components Thereof (III) (Inv. No. 337-TA-1251). See Notice I in 337-TA-1249, Notice II in 337-TA-1250, and Notice III in 337-TA-1251.
By way of background, these investigations are based on a January 19, 2021 complaint (see Part I, Part II, and Part III) filed by Wilson Electronics LLC of St. George, Utah ("Wilson") alleging a violation of Section 337 by Respondents Cellphone-Mate, Inc. d/b/a/ SureCall of Fremont, California and Shenzhen SureCall Communication Technology Co., Ltd. of China (collectively, "Respondents") in the unlawful importation and sale in the U.S. of certain cellular signal boosters, repeaters, bi-directional amplifiers, and components thereof that infringe Wilson's U.S. Patent Nos. 7,221,967 ("the '967 patent"); 7,409,186 ("the '186 patent"); 7,486,929 ("the '929 patent"); 7,729,669 ("the '669 patent"); 7,783,318 ("the '318 patent"); 8,583,033 ("the '033 patent"); 8,583,034 ("the '034 patent"); 8,639,180 ("the '180 patent"); 8,755,399 ("the '399 patent"); 8,849,187 ("the '187 patent"); 8,874,029 ("the '029 patent"); and 8,874,030 ("the '030 patent"). According to the complaint, the asserted patents generally fall into two groups: Group I relates to controlling amplification and a common-direction duplexer; Group II relates to detecting, mitigating, and/or controlling oscillation. Wilson is requesting that the Commission issue a permanent limited exclusion order and a permanent cease and desist order directed to Respondents.
According to the notices, the 337-TA-1249 investigation will determine whether there is a violation of section 337 by reason of infringement of claims 1, 4-7, and 9 of the '967 patent; claims 1, 4, and 9-10 of the '669 patent; claims 1-3 of the '318 patent; and claims 19-21 of the '033 patent. The 337-TA-1250 investigation will determine whether there is a violation with respect to claims 1-20 of the '034 patent; claims 10-14 and 16-17 of the '180 patent; claims 1-10 and 13-15 of the '029 patent; and claims 1-24 of the '030 patent. The 337-TA-1251 investigation will determine whether there is a violation with respect to claims 1, 5-7, 10, and 14 of the '929 patent; claim 1 of the '186 patent; claims 1-7 and 10-12 of the '399 patent; and claims 1-3 of the '187 patent. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations will not participate as a party in any of the investigations.
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