Sunday, March 12, 2017
Segway just dealt a huge blow to the hoverboard industry
Segway just dealt a huge blow to the hoverboard industry
The hoverboard industry suffered another major blow on Wednesday after the International Trade Commission (ITC) announced a ban on certain personal transporter devices being manufactured and imported into the country in response to a patent claim filed by Segway.
The ban is termed as a general exclusion order (see documents below) barring the unlicensed entry into the U.S. of "certain personal transporters that infringe one patent asserted in this investigation," as well as a limited exclusion order "prohibiting the unlicensed entry of infringing personal transporters, components thereof, and manuals."
See also: U.S. government declares hoverboards unsafe
In other words, the hoverboard selling party is likely over for a large number of companies based in China and elsewhere that have been selling the popular device in the U.S. Now, any hoverboard or balance-oriented personal transporter using technology covered by Segways patents will not be allowed into the U.S. for sale.
The notice also details a cease and desist order "directed against one domestic defaulting respondent," although that company is not named. The companies that are named in the ITCs investigation include 13 companies, several of which make hoverboards, including Chinas Ninebot, PowerUnion, Robostep, INMOTION, FreeGo China, U.P. Robotics, U.P. Technology, UPTECH as well as Tech in the City, FreeGo USA, EcoBoomer and Roboscooters.
The ban is termed as a general exclusion order (see documents below) barring the unlicensed entry into the U.S. of "certain personal transporters that infringe one patent asserted in this investigation," as well as a limited exclusion order "prohibiting the unlicensed entry of infringing personal transporters, components thereof, and manuals."
See also: U.S. government declares hoverboards unsafe
In other words, the hoverboard selling party is likely over for a large number of companies based in China and elsewhere that have been selling the popular device in the U.S. Now, any hoverboard or balance-oriented personal transporter using technology covered by Segways patents will not be allowed into the U.S. for sale.
The notice also details a cease and desist order "directed against one domestic defaulting respondent," although that company is not named. The companies that are named in the ITCs investigation include 13 companies, several of which make hoverboards, including Chinas Ninebot, PowerUnion, Robostep, INMOTION, FreeGo China, U.P. Robotics, U.P. Technology, UPTECH as well as Tech in the City, FreeGo USA, EcoBoomer and Roboscooters.
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