Commercial Information Circulars

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e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 111/3/10/1

9 November 2006

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 439/2006

US : Expiration of the Patent and Exclusion Order (337-TA-324) on Certain Acid-Washed Denim Garments and Accessories

The US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently announced that denim certificates are no longer required to be filed as part of the entry documentation for import of acid-washed denim garments and/or accessories.

DETAILS

2. In 1986, the US Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent ("the patent") for a specific method of producing a random-faded effect (commonly known as "acid-washed") on cloth or made-up garments, and the end-product obtained by such a method. Subsequently in 1992, the US International Trade Commission issued an exclusion order ("the exclusion order") to exclude in general entry into the US goods that were manufactured outside the US by any process covered by the patent. Since then, denim certificates certifying that the patent was not infringed were required by CBP as part of the entry documentation for shipments of acid-washed denim garments and/or accessories.
   
   
3. As both the patent and the exclusion order expired on 22 October 2006, CBP announced on 3 November 2006 (Annex (pdf format) ) that the filing of denim certificate will no longer be required for imports of acid-washed denim garments and/or accessories.
   

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5403.

Yours faithfully,

(Ms WONG Ying)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.