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Home - Merchant & Gould P.C.

Merchant &amp; Gould is pleased to announce a significant victory before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The case involved MOTORTECH’s engine ignition systems, which power critical energy and industrial applications. The ITC rejected claims that MOTORTECH’s accused products infringe and denied the requested exclusion order, ensuring that MOTORTECH’s products will remain available to U.S. customers without restriction.

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In February 2024, the ITC instituted an investigation (Inv. No. 337-TA-1390) based on a complaint alleging that MOTORTECH violated U.S. trade law by importing ignition systems and components that infringe on a competitor’s patent related to capacitive discharge ignition systems. The complaint accused MOTORTECH of commercializing “knock-off versions” of the competitor’s products and asked the ITC to block U.S. imports and domestic sales of MOTORTECH’s accused products.

In response, MOTORTECH vigorously contested the claims and demonstrated that its innovative, patented products fundamentally differ from the complainant’s patented ignition systems.

After an evidentiary hearing in late September, the ITC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge issued an initial determination on January 28, finding MOTORTECH’s products did not infringe. The initial determination therefore found that MOTORTECH had not violated U.S. trade law. On March 31, 2025, the ITC declined to review the initial determination and terminated the investigation.

“We have been honored to represent MOTORTECH in this matter, and we are delighted by the ITC’s decision, which vindicates MOTORTECH and reflects its position as an innovator in engine ignition systems,” said Josh Hartman, who led the Merchant team in trial. The cross-office team, led by Josh Hartman and Benjamin Tramm, included Jeff Blake, Bette Muirhead, John Winemiller, Bridget Carmichael, Zach Krenz, Ariel Howe, Ben Dooley, Sarah Wilkening, Jeremy Miller, and Lisa Amos.

Merchant & Gould Secures ITC Victory

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