ITC To Probe Claimed Patent-Infringing Segway Knockoffs - Law360 (subscription)
 

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ITC To Probe Claimed Patent-Infringing Segway Knockoffs
Law360 (subscription)
Law360, New York (November 07, 2014, 3:35 PM ET) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission has agreed to investigate whether products being imported into the U.S. violate patents and copyrights held by Segway Inc. and inventor Dean Kamen's ...

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Source: Google News

I think most people assume that those Chinese companies are using IP stolen from Segway in their products, but I cannot imagine a retailer like Sam's Club selling them unless they did their homework and confirmed that they are legit.

EDIT - Sorry... Can't post any links but internet searches of "robsteproadrunner" and "sam's club robstep" will yield links in the results.

Didn't Sam's Club sell Segways back in the day?

Go Gators!

Retailers get fooled all the time, as do consumers. IF a retailer sells an item that later turns out to have been illegally marketed, I believe the manufacturer of the item is the one really at risk, unless they are in breach of contract with the retailer.

In other words, if the Chinese company represents they are a legal product, Sams club may take them at their word, and if the company that sold to Sams club is not telling the truth, they are liable.

And the legality of the situation is not finalized.

Still, a knock off is a knock off. People will get what they buy...

And T-Stirling, you cannot post links because this is a segway enthusiast site, and not a rip offs for sale site. If you want to sell robo steps, good for you. Just do not expect me to help you do it.

Sorry for leaving that impression... I am not trying to sell anything. I am not a Segway owner - but I have really enjoyed riding them on tours a few times. I have visited Segway forums in the past - I just never registered before because I never posted.

Regarding your comments... I think manufacturers are liable if they are registered (incorporated?) in the US. If not, then I thought the seller (or importer?) assumes liability because jurisdiction-wise there is no manufacturer to go after. I'd be surprised if those Chinese companies are registered here, but I don't know. Maybe they are... or my understanding might be wrong.

I only even know about these things because I saw a guy traveling with one at an airport here in Florida earlier this year. It honestly looked kinda cool, but I figured it might be a copycat...

Go Gators!