The two-year long investigation into the patent-infringement case brought by the UK-based Tate & Lyle PLC and its US subsidiary was concluded on April 7, 2009, when the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) ruled that Lifang client, Hebei Sukerui Science and Technology Co., Ltd., did not infringe Tate & Lyle’s patents...

The case alleged that twenty-five companies infringed five U.S. patents. On September 22, 2008, the USITC’s initial ruling invalidated the only patent that Sukerui was accused of infringing, and determined that Sukerui had not infringed and that there was no domestic industry in connection with that patent.

For the charges against the other companies, the USITC ruled that the companies had not infringed the patents, although the involved U.S. patents were valid and there were corresponding domestic industries. The Commission found that 11 companies that defaulted or failed to participate in the investigation had infringed Tate & Lyle’s patents, and recommended a limited exclusion order against them.