Eaton prevails as international trade commission prohibits importation and sale of ZF and ArvinMeritor transmissions
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CLEVELAND ... Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) announced that the International Trade Commission (ITC) yesterday issued a remedy in Eaton's favor in an unfair import proceeding that Eaton brought against ZF Friedrichshafen AG (ZF), ArvinMeritor, Inc. (ARM) and ZF Meritor LLC (ZFM). The ITC issued an exclusion order prohibiting the importation into the United States of ZF, ARM and ZFM automated mechanical transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, including the Freedomline transmission system, and issued a cease and desist order prohibiting the sale of such transmissions in the United States by ARM. These orders permit the importation or sale of service parts only for transmissions imported or sold in the United States before April 7, 2005. Yesterday's ITC decision provides a remedy for the infringement of an Eaton patent by the automated mechanical transmissions of ZF, ARM and ZFM. The infringement determination was made by an ITC administrative law judge on January 7, 2005, and was affirmed by the full ITC on February 24, 2005. Yesterday's order is subject to Presidential review during the next 60 days. "We are pleased with yesterday's decision by the International Trade Commission," said James E. Sweetnam, senior vice president and group executive of Eaton's Truck business. Sweetnam reaffirmed that "Eaton is committed to developing industry-leading technologies for our customers. To protect Eaton's investments in research and development, we will continue to vigorously defend our patents against infringement by any other companies, domestic or foreign, as we have done in this case." Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2004 sales of $9.8 billion. Eaton is a global leader in fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety; and intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy. Eaton has 56,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries. |
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