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Despite the two wheeled ‘hoverboards' being one of the more recent boom and bust industries in the tech world, with bans and warnings of dangerous batteries, companies are still iterating on the idea. Are they allowed to though? One Chinese manufacturer has had its CES booth raided by U.S. marshals and their marketing material removed, after a patent infringement claim was filed.
The company in question, Changzhou First International Trade was showing off its design for a “surfing electric scooter.” It's just as self balancing and self locomoting as the other board designs that are similar to it, but that turns out to be the problem: it's too similar.
Source: Changzhou First
Although it features additional LEDs and a new plastic housing, Future Motion, the company behind the OneWheel ‘hoverboard' has filed a patent infringement claim and has managed to secure a seizure order against Changzhou, which saw the company's CES booth stripped of just about everything.
While there are many two wheeled designs of these sorts of self-balance boards, the OneWheel is a unique design and there are several utility patents that protect it. Future Motion wasn't keen to let that slip.
“When we got word that a company was exhibiting a knock-off product, we engaged in the formal process, which involved sending a cease and desist letter and then getting a restraining order, which was then enforced by the US marshals,” said Future Motion founder, Kyle Doerksen (via BBC).
“As a company that launched ourselves at CES two years ago, we know that the world is watching.”
Consider too that the Changzhou alternative sells for around a third of the price of a OneWheel, and you can understand why Future Motion was so keen to have the alternative stamped out. While it may end up being able to block sales of the surfing scooter in the U.S. though, Future Motion will need other patents entirely – in China – to halt its manufacture.
It has filed for them however and is awaiting the results.
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KitGuru Says: The fact that the Chinese alternative is a third of the price should tell you it's not a great product too. There might be some viable cost cutting, but the battery will be of a much lower quality and that's where problems with overheating and exploding have occurred with other ‘hoverboards.'
No thanks, I don’t want its wheel stuck to my butt after it explodes…
if it doesn’t hover it isn’t a hoverboard.
Ban chinese made products. They only sell rip off, pirated, bootleg items from legit companies. They ruin the whole industry just for the sake on wanting to earn more money from the ideas of other people.
best part is their government sponsored hackers steel patented information so they can continue the process.
Yeah and while we´re at it. lets ban Chinese manufactured product and manufacture everything in the US and then Watch as every price on more or less everything in the world goes up by 500% as the labor costs make companies bankrupt.
Bootleg anime figures are pretty nice so how about no.
Do you understand what you are saying here? Do you want to support piracy and ruin the anime industry by supporting them?! Wow dude, I pity you. The original anime figures are waaaay too nice compared to the bootlegs due to the quality. You probably do not have a job and still leave off from your parent’s allowance. Go get a job so you can afford this figures and stop living off at bootlegs. tsk tsk
I pity you for seeing it like that. There are countries who are willing to take over China and do legitimate business by not ripping off the original products. But then again I can’t guarantee they won’t do so, but at least they won’t go rampant like the chinese do.
They will do anything just for money and screw everybody for their national interest.
Such petty insults show me you have a shitty or no opinion what so ever.
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And I care because….?
So do you. Your opinion about bootlegs made me cringe.
Jheez you’re getting a bit OTT aren’t you… The Chinese do make a lot of rip off products I agree… But the Americans bitch and moan about just about anything they can. I disagree with patents for the most part, especially the way they’re enforced in the western world. It’s just a gang bang of corporate bellends throwing money at lawyers trying to find the best argument.
Some people are so poor all they have is money.
Jheez Megs you’re getting a bit OTT aren’t you… The Chinese do make a lot of rip off products I agree… But the Americans bitch and moan about just about anything they can. I disagree with patents for the most part, especially the way they’re enforced in the western world. It’s just a gang bang of corporate bellends throwing money at lawyers trying to find the best argument.
Some people are so poor all they have is money.
“cringe”
Can we stop using this bullshit term already it’s getting old.
Yeah, I agree. Your argument is getting old. You resort to cussing just because your point doesn’t get across to someone else. Typical teenagers. Stop using the internet and grow up.
You have some points which I think I tend to agree with. Americans always complains on whatever what they think doesn’t meet their standards. They always cuss in everything that they don’t agree upon. However I can’t blame them thinking like that since the Chinese rip off products being made in their country most of the time, thus ruining whatever industry they set their eyes on. I simply cannot understand why they are doing such a thing.
This shows me you are nothing more than some 9gag/Tumblr reject that has no real argument but still wants to be heard.
I don’t need to be heard by anybody else, I just stated my own opinion about the topic the author posted. If I indeed wanted to be heard, then I guess I was successful since here you are giving me your attention and going full retard. You never go full retard. Just be the better man and walk away. You are just embarrassing yourself. I bet you will respond back again thinking you’re so cool and witty enough to make a come back. If so, thank you for “hearing my argument” from a 9gag/Tumblr reject.
I made a simple comment but you came in here like someone on their period so yes you have a need to be heard.
I knew you will come back. You just can’t resist not responding back and thinking that you are so witty and making such comments. You just don’t like to walk away thinking that your ego and pride would just get step upon. You are just adding more fuel to the fire. Wow, such a comment. Is that the best that you can do? I don’t need to respond back by being witty since I know I already won. Just by you commenting back is entertainment enough to me. I wonder what you will be saying again next time? Someone on their period? Good one. Remember, I’m not seeking any attention here. You are, since you keep responding back. I’m only commenting here since it will be rude for me not giving you any attention.
Oh by the way, I am entitled to my opinion. Whether people find it offensive or not that is their problem. The only the mistake they made (like you) is giving me your attention. I only commented here since I have the right to do so. And here you are stating that I need to be heard and all that. I see nobody here except you who wants so much attention just by commenting all the time at my statement. *slow clap*
I forgot to mention that I came in here first. I made the first comment about the piracy, etc. You commented on my statement about bootlegs being cool and all. I guess it is you who wants to be heard not me. Wanting me to give you my attention. If you commented on a separate statement/thread. I would probably just ignore you since you are entitled to your own opinion. But no, you just need to comment in my statement, wanting me to notice you. Too bad, I did.
Here’s the thing I’m not the one making walls of text saying I don’t need to be heard now am I?
But you read them anyway so it is you who is hearing me. If you don’t want to hear me or read that wall of text, then why keep responding back? You keep adding fuel to the fire. Don’t embarrass yourself further and walk away. If you don’t I will just keep responding back until you give up. I guess you are such a glutton to punishment and love the attention don’t you?
Their industry wouldn’t be half as ruined if they didn’t money grab in the first place.
If they didn’t make a 100% profit on each unit then the price difference would be low, while the quality difference obvious.
So you’re like I used to be where you have to get the last word in anyway possible.
Oh looks who’s back. You simply can’t resist not responding back can you? This is almost a daily habit of yours. Oh well, can’t blame you for being bitter and all. Instead of ignoring me, here you are wanting my attention yet again. Do not worry, senpai has noticed you. Time and time again.