An administrative law judge has recommended that the U.S. International Trade Commission prohibit importation of ZF FreedomLine transmission systems into the U.S.
and that it issue a cease-and-desist order halting sale of the products here. The system’s manufacturer, ZF Friedrichshafen AG of Germany, and its U.S. marketer, ArvinMeritor, say the matter is far from settled.
The FreedomLine is the U.S. version of the ZF-AS Tronic sold in Europe. It competes here with the Eaton Fuller AutoShift and Ultrashift automated transmissions. In late 2003 Eaton filed a complaint with the ITC that included 76 patent infringement claims on 6 Eaton patents. According to ArvinMeritor, the judge ruled that one claim in one patent was infringed.
The case now goes to the commission for a final ruling, expected within the next few months. Under ITC rules, ArvinMeritor can ask for a review of the administrative law judge’s initial determination. The company also says that, if necessary, the commission’s final ruling can be appealed to the Federal Court of Appeals.