CES, the world's largest annual gadget conference taking place in Las Vegas this week, has always been full of small-bore dealers, many from China, selling cheap knock offs.
But until that moment, Changzhou First International Trade was having a successful day selling a one wheel skate board for 1/3 th price of the American company that invented it. It wasn’t the only discount electronic skateboard dealer around, and passers by seemed taken by the design of its product, the Trotter.
You probably recall I posted the crowdfunding news about the American company last year
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/01/dear-santa-forget-my-previous-list-i.html
In August, Future Motion received a patent for the underlying technology. Earlier this week, it got a second one for the device's design. This patent prohibits competitors from making something that an ordinary observer might confuse with the Onewheel.
There is a long-running strain of resentment among companies that feel their patents and trademarks are being violated by low-cost competitors. CES's legal department issues guidelines for those who feel wronged.
The CTA asks companies not to bring more than two employees, one translator, and a lawyer.
Future Motion, a Silicon Valley startup, brought about a half-dozen people from its legal team to accompany the two U.S. Marshals who served a court order, conducted a raid, packed up a one-wheeled skateboard on display, as well as a sign and fliers promoting the product, and carried them away.
In December, Kolitch sent a letter to Changzhou First International Trade demanding that it stop selling the products. He never heard back.
Kolitch tried again the day before the show floor opened, by approaching the booth directly but got nowhere.
By 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Onewheel filed a request with a judge to stop the Trotters from being displayed on the show floor.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-07/u-s-marshals-raid-hoverboard-booth-at-ces
But until that moment, Changzhou First International Trade was having a successful day selling a one wheel skate board for 1/3 th price of the American company that invented it. It wasn’t the only discount electronic skateboard dealer around, and passers by seemed taken by the design of its product, the Trotter.
You probably recall I posted the crowdfunding news about the American company last year
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/01/dear-santa-forget-my-previous-list-i.html
In August, Future Motion received a patent for the underlying technology. Earlier this week, it got a second one for the device's design. This patent prohibits competitors from making something that an ordinary observer might confuse with the Onewheel.
There is a long-running strain of resentment among companies that feel their patents and trademarks are being violated by low-cost competitors. CES's legal department issues guidelines for those who feel wronged.
The CTA asks companies not to bring more than two employees, one translator, and a lawyer.
Future Motion, a Silicon Valley startup, brought about a half-dozen people from its legal team to accompany the two U.S. Marshals who served a court order, conducted a raid, packed up a one-wheeled skateboard on display, as well as a sign and fliers promoting the product, and carried them away.
In December, Kolitch sent a letter to Changzhou First International Trade demanding that it stop selling the products. He never heard back.
Kolitch tried again the day before the show floor opened, by approaching the booth directly but got nowhere.
By 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Onewheel filed a request with a judge to stop the Trotters from being displayed on the show floor.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-07/u-s-marshals-raid-hoverboard-booth-at-ces
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