Companies that receive an ITC Section 337 complaint alleging
unfair trade practices can no longer afford to ignore it,
cautions Kaye Scholer IP Partner Grace Pan, who advises Asian
companies on international IP issues.  “Too many Chinese
companies opt not to respond to 337 complaints, believing it
will have no adverse impact,” says Pan. “But ignoring such
complaints could literally shut down your ability to sell
products in the US.”  The ITC is an independent federal agency
that investigates and adjudicates various unfair import/trade
practices under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. Any
product that infringes at least one claim of one valid US
patent, one trademark or protected trade dress, a registered
copyright, a falsely marked product, or a product made from
misappropriated trade secrets falls under the purview of Section
337 of the ITC.  Companies from Asian countries are particularly
feeling the brunt of this enforcement uptick.  “In the past,
even if an Asian company had a huge money judgment ent