CES 2016: US Marshals Take Down 1-Wheeled Skateboard Booth at CES for Patent Infringement
U.S. Marshals responded to an emergency patent infringement claim by Future Motion at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Future Motion claims the one wheeled skateboard called the Trotter from Changzhou First International Trade infringes on patents they hold for a similar skateboard, the One Wheel.
Thursday, CES visitors saw the U.S. Marshals raid Changzhou First International Trade's booth after Future Motion informed them their patent was being used, CNet reports.
Two U.S. federal agents responded by taking down the Chinese company's booth at CES. Onlookers watched in disbelief as the agents took away all of the promotional materials and flyers from the booth as well.
Changzhou First International Trade's booth was having a successful day with people excited about the one wheeled skateboard before the agents came. People stopped to ask questions and others snapped photos of the affordable toy, Bloomberg reports.
CES allows companies like Changzhou First International Trade to participate in the big technology conference held each year in Las Vegas. These companies usually offer cheap alternatives to other products and many are from China. As long as the companies pay their booth fees, they are given a spot at CES.
Future Motion felt that the Trotter was far too similar to their One Wheel. CES has strict rules on companies confronting each other at the show. Because of this, Future Motion looked into the case and decided to send members of its legal team along with the U.S. federal agents to take down Changzhou First International Trade's booth.
Future Motion spotted the Trotter on Alibaba selling for just $500 last year, compared to their One Wheel that sells for $1,500. They thought it was a cheap knock-off right away. They tried contacting Changzhou First International Trade but were unsuccessful. Before the embarrassing situation Thursday, Future Motion tried one more time earlier in the week to ask Changzhou to stop displaying the Trotter but was also unsuccessful.
Hoverboards and electronic skateboards have been an extremely popular item in technology over the past year.