Paillard, Inc. v. United States

55 C.C.P.A. 31, 1968 CCPA LEXIS 403
CourtCourt of Customs and Patent Appeals
DecidedFebruary 8, 1968
DocketNo. 5280
StatusPublished

This text of 55 C.C.P.A. 31 (Paillard, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Customs and Patent Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Paillard, Inc. v. United States, 55 C.C.P.A. 31, 1968 CCPA LEXIS 403 (ccpa 1968).

Opinions

Ivirkpatrich,

Judge, delivered the opinion of the court:

This is an appeal by Paillard, Inc., from the judgment of the United States Customs Court, First Division (57 Cust. Ct. 439, C.D. 2833) overruling its protest, without affirming the action of the collector, in regard to the classification of anamorphie lenses used in conjunction with motion picture cameras and projectors.

The entire record before the court consists of a stipulation of fact and two exhibits illustrating the use of the lenses with a camera and projector respectively. The pertinent portions of the stipulation entered into by the parties are as follows:

6. That the imported 'anamorphie lenses are mounted lenses which have heen ground in such a manner as to perimit ¡the photographing and projecting of “wide screen films.” They are used in conjunction with standard or telephoto photographic lenses and standard projection lenses. The imported 'adapters are attached to the front of motion picture cameras which are equipped with turret openings. The anamporphic 'lens, when used with cameras, is secured to the adapter, held in fronlt of the standard lens, and after alignment is relady for operation. The lens thus formed, consisting of the imported anamorphie lens and the ¡stiand'ard camera ¡lens, Compresses the ¡light into the film without distortion, loss of sharpness, or loss of brightness in such a manner as to produce a wide screen view having a two to one, width to height, picture ratio, the projection of which does not require a special curved screen. With different adapters, the imported anamorphie lenses are used with projectors, the lens formed by the anamorphie lens functioning in conjunction with the standard projection lens enabling undistorted projection of the wide screen film view.
<3. That the imported anamorphie lenses do not replace standard photographic lenses when used with cameras, and do not replace standard projection lenses [33]*33when used with projectors. The imported anamorphie lenses will not produce undistorted images, either on film or on a projection screen when used by themselves, ¡and are not £o used.
7. That the imported anamorphie len'ses -and .other .similar anamorphie lenses were, on or about May 5, 1959 and March 16, 1960, nsed more often with projectors than with cameras and were used for no other purpose.
8. Th'ait when attached to a camera, an .anamorphie lens is essential to the camera’s function in producing wide screen film. When attached to a projector, the anamorphie lens is essential to the projector's function of producing a wide screen projection.
10. That the component material of chief value of the anamorphie lenses at issue is either glass or Steel.

The pertinent provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 are as follows: Paragraph 228 (b), Tariff Act of 1930:

Azimuth mirrors, parabolic or mangin mirrors for searchlight reflectors, mirrors for optical, dental, or surgical purposes, photographic or projection lenses, sextants, octants, opera or field glasses (not prism binoculars), telescopes, microscopes, all optical instruments, frames and mountings therefor, and parts of any of the foregoing; all the foregoing, finished or unfinished, not specially provided for_ 45% ad val.

Paragraph 228(b), as modified by the Torquay Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T.D. 52739:

Mirrors for optical purposes, projection lenses, sextants, and
octants, finished or unfinished, not specially provided for_ 35% ad val.

Paragraph 230(d), as modified by the Sixth Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T.D. 54108;

All glass, and manufactures of glass, or of which glass is the component of chief value, not specially provided for (except * * *) _ 21% ad val.

Paragraph 397, as modified by the Sixth Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T.D. 54108:

Articles or wares not specially provided for, whether partly or wholly manufactured;
Composed wholly or in chief value of iron, steel, copper, brass, nickel, pewter, zinc, aluminum, or other base metal (except lead) but not plated with platinum, gold, or silver, or colored with gold lacquer:
* * * * * * «
Not wholly or in chief value of fin or tin plate:
Other, composed wholly or in chief value of iron, steel * * *
(except * * *) - 19% ad val.

The collector assessed the lenses at 35 per cent ad valorem under paragraph 228(b) as modified, as “projection lenses.” Appellant con[34]*34tended that the anamorphic lenses were properly dutiable either at the rate of 21 per cent ad valorem under paragraph 230(d), as modified, as manufactures of which glass is the component of chief value, or at the rate of 19 per cent ad valorem under paragraph 397, as modified, as articles in chief value of iron or steel. The Government in addition to supporting the collector’s classification, contended in the alternative that, if it was incorrect, the proper classification was under paragraph 228 (b) as “optical instruments * * * not specially provided for.”

The Customs Court found the collector’s classification under 228 (b), as modified, incorrect, as well as the Government’s asserted alternative classification under paragraph 228 (b). However, the court also held that the appellant had failed to sustain its burden of proof in claiming paragraph 230(d), the appellant having waived the lower rate under paragraph 397. The court therefore overruled the appellant’s protest without affirming the action of the collector.

There are three possible issues presented.

1. Was the collector’s classification of the lenses as “projection lenses” under paragraph 228(b), as modified, (35% duty) incorrect?

2. Assuming the collector’s classification to be incorrect, was the Government’s alternative classification as “optical instruments” (45% duty) properly rejected?

3. Assuming both the collector’s classification and the Government’s alternative classification to be incorrect, was the rejection of the appellant’s classification as merchandise in chief value glass under paragraph 230(d), as modified, (21% duty) proper, paragraph 397 having been waived ?

As to the first, the Customs Court, in holding that the anamorphic lenses in question were not projection lenses within paragraph 228 (b), as modified, grounded its conclusion on the fact that the lenses when used alone cannot produce an undistorted image. To achieve that purpose, they must always be used in conjunction with regular camera or projection lenses. The court’s view is summarized by the following statement:

These anamorphic lenses are, in our opinion, supplementary lens attachments as distinguished from supplementary lenses or lenses which are capable by themselves of producing undistorted images, either on film or on a projection screen.

The Customs Court held that the lenses were not projection lenses, relying on Unimark Photo, InC. v. United States, 47 Cust. Ct. 75, C.D. 2283 (1961), as authority.

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Bluebook (online)
55 C.C.P.A. 31, 1968 CCPA LEXIS 403, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/paillard-inc-v-united-states-ccpa-1968.