ITC issued its Initial determination on its investigation into South Korean polyimide film manufacturer, SKC KOLON PI, Inc. (“SKPI”) and its U.S. importer SKC, Inc. (“SKC”).

Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President: Mr. Kimikazu Sugawara) announced today that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued on May 10, 2012 its Initial Determination on its investigation into violations of 19 USC § 1337 committed by South Korean polyimide film manufacturer, SKC KOLON PI, Inc. (“SKPI”) and its U.S. importer SKC, Inc. (“SKC”), which was ruled by its Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

As a result of Kaneka’s allegation that SKPI and SKC infringe Kaneka’s four patents, the ALJ determined that a certain grade of their products infringes Kaneka’s U.S. Patent No. 7,691,961. However, the ALJ also determined that there is no violation of 19 USC § 1337 with respect to the importation of products which infringe Kaneka’s 7,691,961 patent. Although the ALJ determined that Kaneka’s patents are valid, the ALJ also initially determined that the evidence was insufficient to find infringement of the remaining three Kaneka patents.

Kaneka was disappointed with the Initial Determination and filed a petition for review of the Initial Determination on May 22, 2012. ITC’s final determination will be concluded by September 12, 2012.