The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is usually a place for technology companies to brag about how much faster, lighter and thinner their products are than ones from competitors.
Staff from the various “hoverboard” companies exhibiting at the world’s largest gadget conference last week were eager to point to another feature — patents.
One Chinese maker of electric skateboards, Hangzhou Chic Intelligent Technology Co (杭州騎客智能), brought along framed copies of its patents to CES in Las Vegas. The patents, which were filed in the US, Europe and Japan, cover aspects of the device’s design.
The firm, which only offers products wholesale, plans to sell to consumers under its own brand this year, said Ada Xian, an overseas manager staffing the booth.
“We, ourselves, are suing the copycats,” she said.
The Chinese company, which goes by the brand name Chic, had its display tucked away among other cramped, off-brand corporate booths on the outskirts of the show floor, alongside selfie sticks and low-cost drones. About a dozen companies were hawking hoverboards and products resembling Segways in the same area.
One such company showing off a one-wheeled skateboard had its booth raided by US marshals and its wares confiscated.
Chinese hoverboard companies are facing criticism for copying, which makes Chic’s patents something to brag about. However, exactly who invented the hoverboard is something of a mystery.
Segway Inc, which has been selling self-balancing vehicles since 2001, said low-quality knockoffs risk harming its brand.
Segway sued at least three hoverboard makers last year, including one named Swagway, claiming they infringed on patents. Another one of the targeted companies, called Inventist Inc, is itself suing IO Hawk, a US distributor of products made by Chic.
A few rows away from Chic’s booth at CES, Airwheel Technology Co (愛爾威智能) was demonstrating a two-wheeled board.
The company is in talks with Wal-Mart Stores Inc about carrying its products, Airwheel sales director Cilla Wu (吳鵬) said.
Airwheel hopes its device does not infringe on any competitors’ intellectual property.
“To be honest, we don’t have patents for hoverboards or single-wheel designs,” Wu said. “That’s why we are going with two wheels.”
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