USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation on Screen Protectors and Components
Summary
The U.S. International Trade Commission instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1497 on April 8, 2026, to examine whether screen protectors, application systems, and components imported into the United States violate Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by infringing three U.S. patents owned by Belkin International, Inc. The Commission will investigate claims 1-19 of Patent No. 10,675,817, claims 1-20 of Patent No. 10,782,746, and claims 1-18 of Patent No. 11,772,320, and whether a domestic industry exists as required by statute. Belkin requests a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order.
What changed
The Commission instituted this investigation after Belkin International filed a complaint alleging that imported screen protectors, application systems, and components infringe three of its patents. The investigation covers claims 1-19 of the '817 patent, claims 1-20 of the '746 patent, and claims 1-18 of the '320 patent.
Respondents importing or selling accused products face potential exposure to limited exclusion orders barring entry of infringing products into the United States and cease and desist orders stopping domestic sales. This is the institution phase—parties will have opportunity to respond, and the investigation will determine whether violations occurred. This is a trade enforcement action distinct from federal court patent litigation, with remedies targeted at the import channel.
What to do next
- Importers and exporters of accused screen protectors should monitor the investigation proceedings
- Respondents named in the investigation should prepare defense submissions
- Interested parties may file requests to appear at hearings
Archived snapshot
Apr 11, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Notice
Certain Screen Protectors, Application Systems for Use Therewith, and Components Thereof; Notice of Institution of Investigation
A Notice by the International Trade Commission on 04/13/2026
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- Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-07073 (91 FR 18878) Document Headings ###### International Trade Commission
- [Investigation No. 337-TA-1497]
AGENCY:
U.S. International Trade Commission
ACTION:
Notice
SUMMARY:
Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on March 9, 2026, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of Belkin International, Inc. of El Segundo, California. A supplement was filed on March 13, 2026. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain screen protectors, application systems for use therewith, and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,675,817 (“the '817 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 10,782,746 (“the '746 patent”), and U.S. Patent No. 11,772,320 (“the '320 patent”). The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by the applicable Federal Statute. The complainant requests that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order.
ADDRESSES:
The complaint, except for any confidential information contained therein, may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email EDIS3Help@usitc.gov. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Orndoff, Office of the Secretary, Docket Services Division, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone (202) 205-1802.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
( printed page 18879) Authority: The authority for institution of this investigation is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, and in section 210.10 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2025). Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. International Trade Commission, on April 8, 2026, Ordered that — (1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, an investigation be instituted to determine whether there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or the sale within the United States after importation of certain products identified in paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one or more of claims 1-19 of the '817 patent; claims 1-20 of the '746 patent; and claims 1-18 of the '320 patent, and whether an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337; (2) Pursuant to section 210.10(b)(1) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10(b)(1), the plain language description of the accused products or category of accused products, which defines the scope of the investigation, is “screen protectors for mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablet computers, as well as the application systems for those screen protectors, consisting of the trays that hold the mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablet computers during application of the screen protectors and the films, tabs, and screen protectors that are used during the application process”; (3) For the purpose of the investigation so instituted, the following are hereby named as parties upon which this notice of investigation shall be served: (a) The complainant is:
Belkin International, Inc., 555 S. Aviation Blvd., Suite 180, El Segundo, California 90245
(b) The respondent is the following entity alleged to be in violation of section 337, and is the party upon which the complaint is to be served:
Superior Communications, Inc., 5027 Irwindale Avenue, Suite 900, Irwindale, California 91706
(4) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative Law Judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the presiding Administrative Law Judge.
The Office of Unfair Import Investigations will not participate as a party in this investigation.
Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be submitted by the named respondents in accordance with section 210.13 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.13. Pursuant to 19 CFR 201.16(e) and 210.13(a), such responses will be considered by the Commission if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the Commission of the complaint and the notice of investigation. Extensions of time for submitting responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation will not be granted unless good cause therefor is shown.
Failure of the respondent to file a timely response to each allegation in the complaint and in this notice may be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to appear and contest the allegations of the complaint and this notice, and to authorize the administrative law judge and the Commission, without further notice to the respondent, to find the facts to be as alleged in the complaint and this notice and to enter an initial determination and a final determination containing such findings, and may result in the issuance of an exclusion order or a cease and desist order or both directed against the respondent.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: April 9, 2026.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2026-07073 Filed 4-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
Published Document: 2026-07073 (91 FR 18878)
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