CLA-2-84:RR:NC:1:110 D83254
Mr. Lee Silberzahn
Sony Electronics Inc.
123 Tice Boulevard
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey 07675
RE: The tariff classification of a CD Duplicator from Japan.
Dear Mr. Silberzahn:
In your letter dated October 7, 1998, you requested a tariff
classification ruling.
The merchandise under consideration involves a "Sony" model
SDS-C400 compact disc (CD) Duplicator. This device functions as
a "copy machine" CD duplicator that can simultaneously duplicate
up to six CD's from one pre-recorded CD. The unit measures
approximately 21.5 inches in length by 8.7 inches in width, and
has a depth of 23.4 inches.
The SDS-C400 CD duplicator consists of one CD-ROM drive as
the source drive and six CD recordable drives as the destination
drives. It is capable of duplicating audio, video and multimedia
discs for PC applications. In order to operate the duplicator, a
recorded disc is placed in the CD-ROM drive and one blank disc is
placed in each of the six recordable drives. With the push of a
button, the duplicator automatically copies the information from
the source drive to the target drives via a direct read/write
process from the source to target. The data is not stored
temporarily by the duplicator during the duplication process.
The model SDS-C400 CD duplicator can be used by businesses
to reproduce internally developed and recorded material. This
technology provides confidentiality for sensitive information
that needs to be kept "in house" without the use of outside
firms. Consideration under 8521.90 would be precluded since this
apparatus is not solely designed to reproduce images and sound
directly on a television receiver.
The applicable subheading for the "Sony" model SDS-C400 CD
Duplicator will be 8471.90.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTS), which provides for other machines for
transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for
processing such data, not elsewhere specified or included. The
rate of duty will be free.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177
of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above
should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time
this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions
regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Art
Brodbeck at 212-466-5490.
Sincerely,
Robert B. Swierupski
Director,
National Commodity
Specialist Division