201.8—Filing of documents.

(a) Where to file; date of filing. Documents shall be filed at the office of the Secretary of the Commission in Washington, DC. Such documents, if properly filed within the hours of operation specified in § 201.3(c), will be deemed to be filed on the date on which they are actually received in the Commission.

(b) Conformity with rules. Each document filed with the Commission for the purpose of initiating any investigation shall be considered properly filed if it conforms with the pertinent rules prescribed in this chapter. Substantial compliance with the pertinent rules may be accepted by the Commission provided good and sufficient reason is stated in the document for inability to comply fully with the pertinent rules.

(c) Specifications for documents. Each document filed under this chapter shall be double-spaced, clear and legible, except that a document of two pages or less in length need not be double-spaced.

(d) Number of copies. A signed original (or a copy designated as an original) and fourteen (14) copies of each document shall be filed. All submissions shall be on letter-sized paper (8 1/2 inches by 11 inches), except copies of documents prepared for another agency or a court (e.g. patent file wrappers or pleadings papers). The original and at least one copy of all submissions shall be printed on one side only and shall be unbound (although they may be stapled or held together by means of a clip). In the event that confidential treatment of the document is requested under § 201.6, at least four (4) additional copies shall be filed, in which the confidential business information shall have been deleted and which shall have been conspicuously marked “nonconfidential” or “public inspection.” In the event that confidential treatment is not requested, the document shall be conspicuously marked “No confidential version filed.” The name of the person signing the original shall be typewritten or otherwise reproduced on each copy.

(e) Identification of party filing document. Each document filed with the Commission for the purpose of initiating any investigation shall show on the first page thereof the name, address, and telephone number of the party or parties by whom or on whose behalf the document is filed and shall be signed by the party filing the document or by a duly authorized officer, attorney, or agent of such party. (Also, any attorney or agent filing the document shall give his address and telephone number.) The signature of the person signing such a document constitutes a certification that he had read the document, that to the best of his knowledge and belief the statements contained therein are true, and that the person signing the document was duly authorized to sign it.

(f) Electronic filing. Notwithstanding the relevant provisions of §§ 201.8, 201.12, 201.13, 201.16, 206.8, 207.3, 207.10, 207.15, 207.25, 207.30, 207.62, 207.67, 207.68, 207.93, 210.4, and 210.8 of the Commission's rules of practice and procedure ( 19 CFR 201.8, 201.12, 201.13, 201.16, 206.8, 207.25, 207.3, 207.10, 207.15, 207.30, 207.62, 207.67, 207.68, 207.93, 210.4, and 210.8) governing the filing of documents in paper form with the Commission, a person may instead or in addition choose to file electronically certain documents at http://edis.usitc.gov. A person so choosing shall comply with the procedures set forth in the Commission's Handbook on Electronic Filing Procedures, which is available at the Office of the Secretary and at http://edis.usitc.gov. The Commission's Handbook on Electronic Filing Procedures will include a description of documents that are permitted to be filed with the Commission in electronic form.

(g) Cover Sheet. When making a paper filing, parties must complete the cover sheet on-line at http://edis.usitc.gov and print out the cover sheet for submission to the Office of the Secretary with the paper filing. For documents that are filed electronically, parties must complete the cover sheet for such filing on-line at http://edis.usitc.gov at the time of the electronic filing. The party submitting the cover sheet is responsible for the accuracy of all information contained in the cover sheet, including, but not limited to, the security status and the investigation number, and must comply with applicable limitations on disclosure of business proprietary information or confidential information under § 201.6 and §§ 206.8, 206.17, 207.3, and 207.7 of this chapter.

Code of Federal Regulations

[41 FR 17710, Apr. 27, 1976, as amended at 49 FR 32571, Aug. 15, 1984; 56 FR 11922, Mar. 21, 1991; 67 FR 68037, Nov. 8, 2002; 68 FR 32974, June 3, 2003]