The International Trade Commission Thurs. voted to bar the importation of Qualcomm chipsets and circuit board modules or carriers containing them, on grounds that they infringe Broadcom patents. But in a partial win for Qualcomm and U.S. carriers concerned about the effect on the rollout of 3G networks, the ITC said it will keep allowing devices based on models imported into the U.S. through Thurs. “The Commission found that an order excluding all downstream products would impose great burdens on third parties, given the limited availability of alternative downstream products not containing the infringing chips,” the ITC said: “The Commission determined that barring importation of downstream products, with an exemption for certain previously imported models, will substantially reduce the burdens imposed on third parties while affording meaningful relief to the patent holder.” An ITC judge last year sided with Broadcom and recommended an outright ban. In March, the ITC held an unusual 2-day hearing to take testimony on a remedy. Public safety groups and wireless industry players testified in Qualcomm’s behalf, citing harms of a ban. During a panel discussion Thurs. at the Broadband Summit, Kathleen Ham, managing dir. of regulatory affairs for T-Mobile, said a ban would have been very bad for carriers, since much of their equipment contains Qualcomm chips. “We're a little behind in terms of launching UMTS,” she said: “To do that, we need handsets. We're watching this case very closely.” “Our preliminary assessment is that this is bad news for Qualcomm and its wireless carrier customers, because they revise and turn over their handset models rapidly,” Stifel Nicolaus said.
The Me. legislature gave preliminary approval to a much- weakened network neutrality bill (LD-1675) now recast as a resolution. Both chambers agreed to drop language that would have barred ISPs from interfering with Internet users’ ability to offer or receive content, applications or services, and from discriminating based on Internet content’s source, destination or ownership. The chambers agreed on a resolution directing the Office of Public Advocate to monitor FCC and congressional actions related to network neutrality, gauge their impact on the state’s ability to protect Internet users and report to the Joint Utilities & Energy Committee by Feb. 1, 2008. Under the proposed resolution, that office would monitor other states’ legislative and regulatory actions in regard to network neutrality, and govt. and private efforts in Me. to expand broadband availability. The measure returns to the floor of each chamber for a final vote on passage. The legislature is to adjourn June 20 for the year.
The International Trade Commission Thurs. voted to bar the importation of Qualcomm chipsets and circuit board modules or carriers containing them, on grounds that they infringe Broadcom patents. But in a partial win for Qualcomm and U.S. carriers concerned about the effect on the rollout of 3G networks, the ITC said it will keep allowing devices based on models imported into the U.S. through Thurs. “The Commission found that an order excluding all downstream products would impose great burdens on third parties, given the limited availability of alternative downstream products not containing the infringing chips,” the ITC said: “The Commission determined that barring importation of downstream products, with an exemption for certain previously imported models, will substantially reduce the burdens imposed on third parties while affording meaningful relief to the patent holder.” An ITC judge last year sided with Broadcom and recommended an outright ban. In March, the ITC held an unusual 2-day hearing to take testimony on a remedy. Public safety groups and wireless industry players testified in Qualcomm’s behalf, citing harms of a ban. During a panel discussion Thurs. at the Broadband Summit, Kathleen Ham, managing dir. of regulatory affairs for T-Mobile, said a ban would have been very bad for carriers, since much of their equipment contains Qualcomm chips. “We're a little behind in terms of launching UMTS,” she said: “To do that, we need handsets. We're watching this case very closely.” Said Stifel Nicolaus: “Our preliminary assessment is that this is bad news for Qualcomm and its wireless carrier customers, because they revise and turn over their handset models rapidly.”
In its first week available, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game Shadowrun became the #1-rented videogame in the U.S., according to Rentrak’s preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended June 3. The only other new game in the top 10 was Microsoft’s 360 game Forza Motorsport 2 at #8. The #1 game was again Activision’s Spider-Man 3 for PS2, in its 5th week.
The International Trade Administration has issued an affirmative final determination that certain imports of wickless petroleum wax forms from China constitute circumvention of the antidumping duty order on petroleum wax candles from China.
The International Trade Administration has made preliminary affirmative determinations that coated free sheet (CFS) paper from China, South Korea (Korea), and Indonesia is being, or is likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.
Pursuant to the Offset Act1, also known as the Byrd Amendment, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice in the Federal Register of its intent to distribute assessed antidumping or countervailing duties for Fiscal Year 2007. Written certifications to obtain a continued dumping and subsidy offset under a particular AD/CV order or finding must be received by July 30, 2007.
The International Trade Administration has issued a press release announcing the publication of Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters, its first trade finance guide targeted to small and medium-sized U.S. enterprises. The guide is available at http://trade.gov/media/publications/abstract/trade_finance_guide2007desc.html and through ITA's Trade Information Center and network of domestic Export Assistance Centers and overseas posts. (ITA press release, 04/12/07, available at http://trade.gov/press/press_releases/2007/tfc_041207.asp.)
The International Trade Administration has issued its antidumping duty order for certain polyester staple fiber from China.
ITU-R gave preliminary approval to a version of WiMAX as a terrestrial radio interface for IMT-2000, the ITU standard for 3G wireless communications, ITU said in a press release. The ITU group, which met this week in Japan, also updated IMT-2000 radio interfaces, established the foundation for IMT-Advanced, and called for additional spectrum for IMT, ITU said: “During 2008 and 2009, there will be an open call for candidates for IMT-Advanced to be submitted to ITU, as well as the start of assessment activities of candidate technologies and systems. Services provided using IMT- Advanced could be commercially available as early as 2011 subject to market demand.”