Virus Delays at Int’l Trade Commission Stir Case Backlog Worries

While the U.S. International Trade Commission is typically known for being a venue that handles investigations and exclusion orders quickly since it deals with products being imported into the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the agency to postpone all intellectual property dispute hearings through mid-May, which will result in delays and a backlog of cases. Bloomberg Law contacted Finnegan partner Smith Brittingham for his thoughts.

In comparing the current situation to the 2018/2019 government shutdown, Smith said, “The flip side is, we’re in for a longer period of compromised capabilities. That ultimately will likely have an effect on a fairly broad number of investigations.”

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