USITC launches Samsung section 337 investigation

The US International Trade Commission (USITC) has launched a section 337 investigation into Samsung concerning “certain mobile devices with multifunction emulators”.

The complaint was originally filed with the USITC in July by Dynamics, a Pennsylvania-based designer and manufacturer of smart battery-powered payment cards, alleging violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act, which relates to the importation and sale of specific patent-infringing goods within the US.

Dynamics cited four instances of patent infringement, relating to its US patent numbers 8,827,153 and 10,032,100, which detail magnetic strip communication devices and emulators, and US patent numbers 10,223,631 and 10,255,545, which concerns a magnetic emulator payment card.

Under the registered patents, the payment card operates by using a magnetic emulator that communicates information to a magnetic strip reader to validate server receipts of encrypted transaction information.

The scope of the investigation against Samsung covers both mobile phones and smartwatches.

Ensuing proceedings will be presided over by a chief administrative law judge of the USITC.