On September 17, 2014, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) decided to launch a 337 investigation into certain laser abraded denim garments imported and sold in the U.S. market. The products involved are denim ready-to-wear, including jeans and leggings that have been treated with laser technology for abrasion.
The application for this Section 337 investigation was filed by RevoLaze, LLC and TechnoLines, LLC (collectively referred to as “RevoLaze Company”) on August 18, 2014, alleging laser abrasion treatment of denim imported into the United States and sold in the U.S. market The garments infringe one or more claims of its U.S. registered patents 5990444, 6140602, 6252196, 6664505, 6819972, and 6858815, and violate the relevant provisions of Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930.
The defendants identified by the USITC include: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. of New Albany, OH; American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. of Pittsburgh , PA); BBC Apparel Group, LLC of New York, NY; Gotham Licensing Group, LLC of New York, NY; The Buckle, Inc. of Kearney, NE); Buffalo International ULC of Montreal, Quebec, Canada; 1724982 Alberta ULC of Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Diesel S.p.A. of Breganze (VI), Italy. Italy); DL1961 Premium Denim Inc. of New York, NY; Eddie Bauer LLC of Bellevue, WA; The Gap, Inc. of San Francisco, CA ); American Guess Company (Guess, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA); Swedish H&M Company (H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB of Stockholm, Sweden); American H&M Company (H&M Hennes & Mauritz LP of New York, NY); Italian Robert ·Roberto Cavalli S.p.A. of Milan, Italy; Koos Manufacturing, Inc. of South Gate, CA; Levi Strauss & Co. of San Francisco, CA; Lucky Brand Dungarees Company (Lucky Brand Dungarees, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA); Italian Fashion Box S.p.A. Company (Fashion Box S.p.A. of Asolo (Treviso), Italy); American VF Company (VF Corp. of Greensboro, NC).
