Ohio furniture maker: Lay off sofa imports

Sauder Manufacturing says that imports of convertible couches made by a Canadian company are infringing its intellectual property rights and is asking for a limited exclusion order on those imports.    Archbold, Ohio-based Sauder Manufacturing Co. seeks relief from the International Trade Commission under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 for alleged intellectual property law violations by the importation, sale for importation and sale within the U.S. after importation of certain convertible sofas and components, the ITC announced Wednesday.
   Sauder is requesting a limited exclusion order of the referenced products made by Kitchener, Ontario-based Krug Inc., that a cease-and-desist order be issued preventing sales of those products in the U.S. and that the ITC impose a bond upon respondents’ alleged infringing articles during the 60-day statutory review period.
   The ITC is collecting comments through June 25 from “proposed respondents,” other interested parties and members of the public, not to exceed five pages, inclusive of attachments.
   “Comments should address whether issuance of the relief specifically requested by the complainant in this investigation would affect the public health and welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States or United States consumers,” the ITC said.
   Comments should include explanations on how articles potentially subject to requested remedial orders are used in the United States; identify like or directly competitive articles that the complainant, licensees or third parties make in the U.S. that could replace the subject articles if they were excluded; and explain how the requested remedial orders would impact U.S. consumers, among other things, the ITC said.