Vastfame Camera v. International Trade Com'n

• Decision Date: 07 October 2004
• Docket Number: No. 03-1489.,No. 03-1426.,03-1426.,03-1489.
• Citation: 386 F.3d 1108
• Parties: VASTFAME CAMERA, LTD., Appellant, and Argus Industries, Inc., Appellant, v. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION, Appellee, and Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Intervenor.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Federal Circuit

386 F.3d 1108

VASTFAME CAMERA, LTD., Appellant, and Argus Industries, Inc., Appellant, v. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION, Appellee, and Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Intervenor.

No. 03-1426.

No. 03-1489.

United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.

DECIDED: October 7, 2004.

Appeal from the International Trade Commission's.

Joseph W. Bain, Akerman Senterfitt, of West Palm Beach, FL, argued for VastFame Camera, Ltd.

Jean H. Jackson, Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, of Washington, DC, argued for appellee. With her on the brief were Lyn M. Schlitt, General Counsel, and James M. Lyons, Deputy General Counsel.

Lawrence Rosenthal, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, of New York, NY, argued for intervenor. With him on the brief were Matthew W. Siegal, Lisa A. Jakob, Angie M. Hankins and Howard D. Shatz. Of counsel were Will E. Leonard and Michael L. Doane, Adduci, Mastriani & Schaumberg, L.L.P., of Washington, DC.

Before CLEVENGER, BRYSON, and LINN, Circuit Judges.

LINN, Circuit Judge.

This appeal is one of two related appeals from a decision of the International Trade Commission ("Commission") involving "single-use" or "disposable" 35 mm film cameras, more formally known as "lens-fitted film packages" ("LFFP"). VastFame Camera, Ltd. ("VastFame") appeals from the Commission's determination that importation of VastFame's LFFPs violates a pre-existing general exclusion order. In re Certain Lens-Fitted Film Packages, Inv. No. 337-TA-406 (Int'l Trade Comm'n May 2, 2002) ("Initial Determination"). Because the Commission's decision refusing to allow VastFame to present its invalidity defense was contrary to 19 U.S.C. § 1337(c), we vacate the Commission's infringement determination with respect to VastFame and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

BACKGROUND

This proceeding arises out of the Commission's investigation, entitled In re Certain Lens-Fitted Film Packages, which resulted in the issuance of a general exclusion order on June 9, 1999. Inv. No. 337-TA-406 (Int'l Trade Comm'n June 9, 1999) ("Initial Investigation"). The Initial Investigation involved newly made and refurbished LFFPs. The Initial Investigation also involved numerous Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. ("Fuji") patents, including U.S. Patent No. 4,884,087 ("the '087 patent"). At least one party in the Initial Investigation raised an invalidity defense with respect to the '087 patent, but the defense was abandoned before any judgment on the merits.

VastFame was not a party to the Initial Investigation, and its VN99 and VN991 cameras were not at issue in that investigation. Although VastFame was not a named respondent in the Initial Investigation, it knew that the proceedings were taking place. VastFame was notified of the proceedings in a March 25, 1998 letter from Fuji. The letter informed VastFame that it had been identified as a potential respondent, offered to supply VastFame with a copy of the supplemented complaint, and advised VastFame that whether or not it joined, it would be bound by the decision. VastFame refused to join the proceedings.

After the general exclusion order issued, VastFame obtained a ruling from the U.S. Customs Service¹ ("Customs") that the VN99 and VN991 cameras did not violate the general exclusion order. Lens-Fitted Film Packages, Pub. No. 468780, ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-406 (Customs Serv. Mar. 27, 2000). Customs only considered one of the fifteen patents upon which the general exclusion order was based. Nevertheless, having concluded that VastFame's LFFPs did not violate the general exclusion order, Customs allowed the importation of VastFame's VN99 and VN991 cameras beginning in early 2000.

In June 2001, Fuji filed a complaint with the Commission requesting enforcement and advisory proceedings to determine whether VastFame and others had violated the general exclusion order. In those proceedings, VastFame pled as a defense that claim 15 of the '087 patent was invalid under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103(a) in view of certain prior art references. Vastfame fully briefed the invalidity defense and was prepared to put on its case at the trial, but the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") refused to consider invalidity, ruling that the defense could not be raised in the enforcement proceeding. Initial Determination, slip op. at 64 n. 33. The ALJ explained his position at a pretrial conference. At that conference, he advised the parties that the Commission's order directing the ALJ to conduct the proceedings did not permit him to entertain a validity challenge to the patents underlying the general exclusion order. The ALJ expressed the view that the Commission's order limited him to determining only whether the importation of the enforcement respondents' cameras violated the general exclusion order.

In February 2002, the ALJ conducted an evidentiary hearing on the issues raised in Fuji's complaint. On May 2, 2002, the ALJ concluded that the VN99 and VN991 cameras infringed only one claim asserted by Fuji, namely, claim 15 of the '087 patent. Initial Determination. Based on the finding of infringement, the ALJ held that the VN99 and VN991 cameras were in violation of the general exclusion order and could no longer be imported. Because Fuji's complaint sought both enforcement and advisory proceedings, the ALJ simultaneously issued separate opinions in the form of an initial determination on enforcement and an advisory opinion regarding violation of the general exclusion order. See In re Certain Lens-Fitted Film Packages, Inv. No. 337-TA-406 (Int'l Trade Comm'n May 2, 2002) (advisory opinion).

Upon entry of the ALJ's enforcement initial determination, VastFame petitioned the Commission to remand the case to the ALJ for consideration of the previously excluded invalidity defense. The Commission declined to review the ALJ's decision on this issue leaving the decision as the final determination of the Commission. In re Certain Lens-Fitted Film Packages, Inv. No. 337-TA-406 (Int'l Trade Comm'n Aug. 7, 2002). On May 15, 2003, the Commission finalized its proceedings. In re Certain Lens-Fitted Film Packages, Inv. No. 337-TA-406 (Int'l Trade Comm'n May 15, 2003).

VastFame timely appealed to this court. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(6).

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

As the agency charged with the administration of § 1337, the Commission is entitled to appropriate deference to its interpretation of the statute. See United States v. Mead Corp., 533 U.S. 218, 227, 121 S.Ct. 2164, 150 L.Ed.2d 292 (2001); Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 844, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984); Enercon GmbH v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 151 F.3d 1376, 1381 (Fed.Cir.1998). Under Chevron, we must first look to "whether Congress has directly spoken to the precise question at issue." 467 U.S. at 842, 104 S.Ct. 2778. As the Supreme Court explained, "If a court, employing traditional tools of statutory construction, ascertains that Congress had an intention on the precise question at issue, that intention is the law and must be given effect." Id. at 843 n. 9, 104 S.Ct. 2778. However, "if the statute is silent or ambiguous with respect to the specific issue, the question for the court is whether the agency's answer is based on a permissible construction of the statute." Id. at 843, 104 S.Ct. 2778. In the latter case, this court will "uphold the [Commission's] interpretation of [19 U.S.C. § 1337] if it is reasonable in light of the language, policies and legislative history of the statute." Enercon, 151 F.3d at 1381; see also San Huan New Materials High Tech, Inc. v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 161 F.3d 1347, 1351 (Fed.Cir.1998) (quoting Enercon, 151 F.3d at 1381).

B. Statutory Basis of the Enforcement Proceeding

As a threshold matter, the parties disagree as to the statutory basis of the enforcement proceeding before the Commission. This is an issue we must decide before we can determine if the Commission erred in not providing VastFame an opportunity to present its invalidity defense. VastFame argues that the enforcement proceeding, which was expressly conducted under 19 C.F.R. § 210.75(b), constituted an investigation under § 1337(b) because that is the only provision that authorizes the type of inquiry engaged in by the Commission in this case. The Commission argues that § 1337 provides the Commission with general authority to enforce its own exclusion orders. It argues that multiple provisions in § 1337 indicate that Congress intended for the Commission to have a role in enforcing its own orders.

Neither party cites express statutory authority for enforcement proceedings, and we have found none. Because the statute is silent with respect to the Commission's authority specifically to conduct enforcement proceedings, the Commission's interpretation of § 1337 may be entitled to deference "if it is reasonable in light of the language, policies and legislative history of the statute." Enercon, 151 F.3d at 1381.

The Commission is a creature of statute. Sealed Air Corp. v. U.S. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 68 C.C.P.A. 93, 645 F.2d 976, 987 (1981). Thus, it must find authority for its actions in its enabling statute. See Young Eng'rs, Inc. v. U.S. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 721 F.2d 1305, 1311-12 (Fed.Cir.1983) ("5 C.F.R. § 211.57 cannot, and does not, provide greater authority than the statute."). The Commission cites 19 U.S.C. § 1335, which gives the Commission authority to "adopt such reasonable procedures and rules and regulations as it deems necessary to carry out its functions and duties." However, this provision does nothing more than provide the Commission with authority to promulgate rules. It does not give the Commission the substantive right to go beyond the express powers provided in § 1337. Similarly, the Commission cites Rule 210.75(b), under which the enforcement proceeding was conducted. However, the Rule itself cannot provide the needed statutory authority. S...