ITC Judge Warns COVID-19 Likely Could Still Force Holding Hearings ‘Remotely’ in March

The International Trade Commission set Sept. 27, 2021, as the “target date” for completing its Tariff Act Section 337 investigation into Sharp’s patent infringement complaint against Vizio and its suppliers, said an order (login required) signed Friday by Administrative Law Judge Dee Lord. The order set a Markman fact-finding hearing for Oct. 1 and an evidentiary hearing for the week of March 1. “It may not be practical to hold the scheduled hearings in-person” because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Lord. “The parties should be prepared for the likelihood that hearings will be conducted remotely.” An ITC May 20 notice extended the postponement of all in-person Section 337 hearings at least through July 10. Sharp’s April 21 complaint alleged TVs and components from Vizio, its panel maker Xianyang CaiHong Optoelectronics and set maker TPV infringe five Sharp LCD display patents (see 2004270045).