CES 2016: US Marshals raid hoverboard stand
Dramatic swoop on Chinese firm's exhibit follows accusations that their product infringes patents
Two US marshals have raided the stand of a Chinese hoverboard manufacturer at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, confiscating the display's one-wheeled self-balancing skateboard and all promotional material. "It was dramatic", says Gizmodo.
"It quickly became clear this wasn't the usual CES publicity stunt", says Bloomberg, adding that representatives from makers Changzhou First International Trade Co. were "stunned".
The company has been accused of trademark infringement by Californian-based start-up Future Motion, which says the Chinese-made Trotter electric skateboard is a copy of their own federally and internationally patented design the Onewheel.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The case involves two patents: one filed for the design of the Onewheel on 5 January 2016 and another for its self-balancing mechanism, which dates back to April 2014.
"We engaged our IP lawyers because we heard there were going to be knock-offs of the Onewheel product appearing at CES,” designer Kyle Doerkson told Bloomberg.
Prices for the two boards differ greatly - the Trotter reportedly sells for $550 (£376), compared to $1,500 (£1,026) for the Onewheel.
It is not uncommon for copycat devices to be found at the show, says IGN. Any dealer can attend provided they pay the fees for a booth.
Speaking to the BBC, Changzhou said it did not believe it had broken the law, claiming it had come up with its design long ago and had hidden it to avoid other Chinese start-ups from copying it.
A spokeswoman for the US Department of Justice told the broadcaster it was not uncommon for marshals to be involved with such cases, but that the circumstances of the raid – in plain view of other exhibitors, attendees, and journalists at the show – was unique.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Marine Le Pen's fake jobs trial
The Explainer The far-right French leader could face a fine, jail time, and a five-year ban from public office if found guilty of embezzlement
By Abby Wilson Published
-
How to earn extra cash for Christmas
The Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
How cybercriminals are hacking into the heart of the US economy
Speed Read Ransomware attacks have become a global epidemic, with more than $18.6bn paid in ransoms in 2020
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Language-learning apps speak the right lingo for UK subscribers
Speed Read Locked-down Brits turn to online lessons as a new hobby and way to upskill
By Mike Starling Published
-
Brexit-hobbled Britain ‘still tech powerhouse of Europe’
Speed Read New research shows that UK start-ups have won more funding than France and Germany combined over past year
By Mike Starling Published
-
Playing Cupid during Covid: Tinder reveals Britain’s top chat-up lines of the year
Speed Read Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Dominic Cummings among most talked-about celebs on the dating app
By Joe Evans Last updated
-
Brits sending one less email a day would cut carbon emissions by 16,000 tonnes
Speed Read UK research suggests unnecessary online chatter increases climate change
By Joe Evans Published
-
Reach for the Moon: Nokia and Nasa to build 4G lunar network
Speed Read Deal is part of the US space agency’s plan to establish human settlements on the lunar surface
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
iPhone 12 launch: what we learned from the Apple ‘Hi, Speed’ event
Speed Read Tech giant unveils new 5G smartphone line-up
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Russian agency behind US election meddling ‘created fake left-wing news site’
Speed Read Facebook says real reporters were hired by fake editors to write about US corruption
By Holden Frith Published