ITC Asks for Comments on Request for Section 337 Import Ban on Cellphones

The International Trade Commission seeks comment by April 20 on a request for a Tariff Act Section 337 ban on imports of cellphones that allegedly infringe patents held by Creative Technology and Creative Labs, said an ITC notice slated for Tuesday's Federal Register. In the March 24 complaint, Creative said cellphones imported by BlackBerry, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Motorola Mobility, Samsung, Sony Mobile and ZTE copy its patented technology for organizing songs by artist and album. The technology is also used on Apple phones, but Apple licensed the patent, said Creative. The complaint asks for a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order banning import and sale of infringing products by those companies. Those companies didn't comment Monday.