Segway Asks for Section 337 Import Ban on Chinese Personal Transporters

Segway and DEKA Products Limited filed a complaint Sept. 9 at the International Trade Commission requesting a Section 337 investigation into imported personal transporters that they say infringe their patents. Segway says PowerUnion, UPTECH Robotics Technology, Beijing Universal, Ninebot; INMOTION Technologies, Robstep Robot, FreeGo, Tech in the City, Roboscooters.com and EcoBoomer are manufacturing and importing from China self-balancing electric vehicles that copy Segway’s patented technologies. The complaint identifies the WindRunner, Ninebot, FreeGo, lnmotion, and Robstep personal transporters. Segway is asking the ITC to issue cease and desist orders and either a general exclusion order against infringing personal transporters from all companies, or limited exclusion orders targeted at the companies it identified in its complaint. The ITC is accepting comments by Sept. 23 on public interest factors raised by the complaint.