American sound equipment maker Bose has filed a complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), alleging that several companies, including from China, have infringed on the company’s copyrights on earpiece devices.
The complaint, pursued under Section 337 of the Tariff Act, was filed on May 24, according to federal records. The USITC, a federal agency that oversees trade practices, has 45 days to conduct an investigation and determine whether the copyright-infringing products caused unfair competition for the complainant. If the alleged parties are found guilty of infringement, the Commission can exclude the products from entry into the United States or issue a “cease and desist” order, or both. Violators are also liable to civil penalties, “up to $100,000 a day or twice the value of the imported articles,” according to the USITC website.
