U.S. Trade Commission Finds Patent Violation in Polycrystalline Diamond Compacts Case

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Date: 2025-12-09

On December 9, 2025, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) announced its final decision in Investigation No. 337-TA-1236. The case looked at the importation of polycrystalline diamond compacts and related articles into the United States.

Companies Found to Violate U.S. Patent Law

The ITC found that several companies broke Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The companies were:

  • SF Diamond Co., Ltd. (Henan, China)
  • SF Diamond USA, Inc. (Spring, Texas)
  • Iljin Diamond Co., Ltd., Iljin Holdings Co., Ltd., Iljin USA Inc., Iljin Europe GmbH, Iljin Japan Co., Ltd., Iljin China Co., Ltd. (Korea, USA, Germany, Japan, China)
  • Henan Jingrui New Material Technology Co., Ltd. (China)
  • Zhenzghou New Asia Superhard Materials Composite Co., Ltd. (China)
  • International Diamond Services, Inc. (USA)
  • CR Gems Superabrasives Co., Ltd. (China)
  • Fujian Wanlong Superhard Material Technology Co., Ltd. (China)
  • Guangdong Juxin Materials Technology Co., Inc. (China)
  • Shenzhen Haimingrun Superhard Materials Co., Ltd. (China)

These companies were found to have imported, sold for importation, or sold in the U.S. certain polycrystalline diamond compacts and articles that violated claims 1, 2, 11, 15, and 21 of U.S. Patent No. 10,508,502.

Remedies Ordered by the Commission

Because of the violation, the ITC issued two major orders:

  • A limited exclusion order (LEO): This stops the listed companies from importing products that infringe the patent.
  • A cease and desist order (CDO): This order stops SF Diamond USA, Inc. from selling the infringing products in the United States.

The ITC also set a bond at zero percent of the value of the excluded products imported during the period when the President reviews the order.

Background of the Investigation

The case began on December 29, 2020, after a complaint from US Synthetic Corporation (USS) of Orem, Utah. The company said some imports were breaking patent laws in the United States.

The ITC first found that there was no violation about some of the patents in question. Some patents and companies were dropped from the investigation as the case went on.

After a hearing in October 2021, the ITC originally found no violation for three of the patents. USS appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. On February 13, 2025, the Federal Circuit reversed the ITC’s earlier finding about U.S. Patent No. 10,508,502 and asked the ITC to reconsider. The Commission then found a violation regarding this patent.

Details on the Commission’s Review

After reviewing new evidence and legal arguments, the ITC:

  • Agreed USS could use a new method to show its U.S. industry was harmed.
  • Decided that the economic prong of the law, which shows harm to U.S. business, was met.
  • Decided that public interest did not stop them from issuing the orders.

The ITC delivered its orders and opinion to the President and the United States Trade Representative.

Investigation Ended

The ITC’s orders and opinion were dated December 4, 2025. The investigation is now closed.

Contacts and More Information

Information about this case is available from Cathy Chen in the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission. Documents can be seen at https://edis.usitc.gov. General Commission information is found at https://www.usitc.gov.


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