If the fact that most hoverboards are banned from public spaces in multiple cities or being sold by online retailers isn't enough to stop you from purchasing one from a place outside of the United States, then Segway's patent suit probably will.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has banned the importation of hoverboards produced overseas because, according to Segway, the "personal transporter" designs of other hoverboard manufacturers infringes upon the design of another product — the handle-barred two-wheeler made famous by stuff like this:
Here's the section of the patent that's making waves:
"An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning."
So, which companies are in trouble due to Segway's complaint? The answer is a lot — roughly 13, in fact — which include Robstep Robot, Shenzhen InMotion Technologies, Tech in the City, Freego USA, Uptech Robotics Technology, Beijing Universal Pioneering Technology, FreeGo, EcoBoomer and Roboscooters.com.
If names that include "USA" in the title seem a bit strange to include in a suit that is meant to deal with international imports, don't be fooled — as Engadget reported, "most of these entities import self-balancing scooters from China."
Besides the patent suit, what makes Chinese hoverboards a particular concern isn't necessarily a blanket condemnation of all products made in the country, but that the two-wheelers assembled there don't have standardized safety regulations. It should be noted that an amalgamation of Chinese hoverboard manufacturers, suppliers and sellers are attempting to remedy that.
However, as the patent complaint states, it isn't the safety factor in question here. The big issue in question is that Segway claims the fundamental design of the hoverboard trespasses upon their original product, whether or not the scooter has handlebars.
