Thursday afternoon, two U.S. federal marshals showed up at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to conduct a raid. Future Motion Inc. had obtained a temporary restraining order preventing the exhibition of allegedly infringing products at CES by Changzhou First International Trade Co., Ltd. ("CZ-First").
As a crowd gathered, the marshals packed up a one-wheeled skateboard on display at a Chinese company's booth, as well as a sign and fliers promoting the product, and carried them away. As reported by Bloomberg, it quickly became clear this wasn't the usual CES publicity stunt. Staffers for the company, Changzhou First International Trade Co., were stunned.
Onewheel has only one moving part, but sophisticated sensors and control electronics make that motion magical. There are no hand controls, just lean forward to accelerate, lean backward to slow down and stop. Technical specifications of Onewheel include: Motor: 500W transverse flux hub; Battery: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) 48V; Sensors: Solid State MEMS 6-DOF; Tire: 11.5×6.5-6 Vega; Max lean angle: >30 degrees; Top speed: 15 MPH; Typical range: 6-7 miles; Recharge time: 20 mins (ultra charger); Dimensions: 9×11.5×30 (in); Weight: 25 lb.
Future Motion believes CZ-First's product, the "Surfing Electric Scooter," blatantly and deliberately copies the look and function of Future Motion's Onewheel® product, thereby infringing two of Future Motion's issued U.S. patents. As part of the injunctive relief granted by the Nevada Federal District Court, the accused "Surfing Electric Scooter" products and other evidence of patent infringement have been seized by the U.S. Federal Marshals Service pending the outcome of Future Motion's patent infringement complaint.
"Knocking off an invention that is patented and carefully quality-controlled is a disservice and unsafe to consumers. Future Motion welcomes fair competition, but companies that simply mimic Onewheel® without the same technical know-how and safety assurances pose a threat not just to Future Motion, but to consumers and the industry at large," said Kyle Doerksen, CEO, Inventor and Chief Engineer, Future Motion. "We will continue to vigorously defend our intellectual property rights around the world."
