Roku Asks Supreme Court to Clarify ITC Power in Patent Disputes

The Federal Circuit contradicted the “plain language” of federal law by affirming the US International Trade Commission’s decision barring the import of certain television products, Roku Inc. told the US Supreme Court.

Because the appeals court declined to “cabin the ITC to the authority granted by its enabling statute,” the task now falls on the highest court, the TV technology company said in a petition filed Aug. 16. The Federal Circuit’s ruling threatens to erode the guardrails around the ITC’s ability to block imports in patent disputes, exposing the trade panel to potential constitutional concerns, Roku argued.

The US Court ...