KingSong: Difference between revisions
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'''KingSong''', a manufacturer of electric unicycles, has been the subject of multiple consumer rights concerns. These issues include the use of software to restrict user freedom and product ownership, notably through mandatory app-based activation that can remotely disable devices. Additionally, the company's mobile application has faced criticism for its privacy practices, with reports of it requiring invasive permissions to function. Furthermore, King Song has been linked to product safety issues after a U.S. government agency issued a warning about a fire hazard with one of its models, which the company reportedly refused to recall. | '''KingSong''', a manufacturer of electric unicycles, has been the subject of multiple consumer rights concerns. These issues include the use of software to restrict user freedom and product ownership, notably through mandatory app-based activation that can remotely disable devices. Additionally, the company's mobile application has faced criticism for its privacy practices, with reports of it requiring invasive permissions to function. Furthermore, King Song has been linked to product safety issues after a U.S. government agency issued a warning about a fire hazard with one of its models, which the company reportedly refused to recall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |date=2022-07-12 |title=CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using King Song Electric Unicycles Due to Fire Hazard; Fire and Injuries Reported |url=https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2022/CPSC-Warns-Consumers-to-Immediately-Stop-Using-King-Song-Electric-Unicycles-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-Fire-and-Injuries-Reported |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=https://www.cpsc.gov}}</ref> | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
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The company's use of software-based controls to enforce market segmentation and prevent "grey market" price erosion creates a digital wall that fundamentally alters the nature of product ownership. The ability of the manufacturer to remotely disable a product that has been paid for and sold to a consumer challenges a fundamental legal concept in many jurisdictions: the '''"first-sale doctrine."''' This principle holds that once a copyright owner sells a copy of their work, they lose the right to control its subsequent distribution. In this context, the manufacturer's ability to "brick" a product after the sale is complete is seen by many in the community as '''a violation of property rights.'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Boilerdog359 |date=2020-11-16 |title=Kingsong region locking |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricUnicycle/comments/jvcs8i/kingsong_region_locking/ |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> | The company's use of software-based controls to enforce market segmentation and prevent "grey market" price erosion creates a digital wall that fundamentally alters the nature of product ownership. The ability of the manufacturer to remotely disable a product that has been paid for and sold to a consumer challenges a fundamental legal concept in many jurisdictions: the '''"first-sale doctrine."''' This principle holds that once a copyright owner sells a copy of their work, they lose the right to control its subsequent distribution. In this context, the manufacturer's ability to "brick" a product after the sale is complete is seen by many in the community as '''a violation of property rights.'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Boilerdog359 |date=2020-11-16 |title=Kingsong region locking |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricUnicycle/comments/jvcs8i/kingsong_region_locking/ |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> | ||
While King Song's policy is intended to protect its business interests, the method of enforcement places the burden on the end consumer, who may be an uninformed party in the complexities of the global supply chain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Enro123 |date=2020-08-17 |title=Latest Kingsong debacle of locking their EUCs - InMotion could also do the same. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricUnicycle/comments/ibd413/latest_kingsong_debacle_of_locking_their_eucs/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Community members have argued that a more appropriate business practice would be to deny warranty or service for grey market wheels, rather than remotely disabling the device itself, a method they deem "unacceptable" and "not even legal". | While King Song's policy is intended to protect its business interests, the method of enforcement places the burden on the end consumer, who may be an uninformed party in the complexities of the global supply chain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Enro123 |date=2020-08-17 |title=Latest Kingsong debacle of locking their EUCs - InMotion could also do the same. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricUnicycle/comments/ibd413/latest_kingsong_debacle_of_locking_their_eucs/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Community members have argued that a more appropriate business practice would be to deny warranty or service for grey market wheels, rather than remotely disabling the device itself, a method they deem "unacceptable" and "not even legal". This practice turns a consumer's one-time purchase into a product with a built-in, manufacturer-controlled kill switch, which is a significant departure from traditional models of ownership. | ||
==='''Remote Locking and Geo-Fencing'''=== | ==='''Remote Locking and Geo-Fencing'''=== | ||
As a policy to combat "grey market" imports, King Song implemented a region-locking mechanism that requires the official app for new wheel "activation." Wheels intended for the Chinese domestic market are remotely disabled or "bricked" if an attempt is made to connect them with the app from an international IP address. This policy has left consumers who unknowingly purchased these wheels from unofficial resellers with non-functional devices, sparking outrage within the community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Vulkov |date=2020-08-05 |title=WARNING KINGSONG PRODUCTS |url=https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/19378-warning-kingsong-products/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=forum.electricunicycle.org}}</ref> | As a policy to combat "grey market" imports, King Song implemented a region-locking mechanism that requires the official app for new wheel "activation." Wheels intended for the Chinese domestic market are remotely disabled or "bricked" if an attempt is made to connect them with the app from an international IP address. This policy has left consumers who unknowingly purchased these wheels from unofficial resellers with non-functional devices, sparking outrage within the community.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@Vulkov |date=2020-08-05 |title=WARNING KINGSONG PRODUCTS |url=https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/19378-warning-kingsong-products/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=forum.electricunicycle.org}}</ref>[[File:117716528 1934204426716639 5748934329590208824 n.png|thumb|Official KingSong statement on retrospectively geo-locking wheels from their facebook page <ref>{{Cite web |last=King Song International |date=2020-04-20 |title=King Song Official Notice |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19ooE3BRST/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=facebook.com}}</ref>]]<gallery> | ||
File:Chat with KingSong representative.jpg|Screenshot of a chat detailing a victim's experience with a KingSong representative, who, on behalf of the company, accepted payment for a wheel and subsequently geo-locked the device, preventing the consumer from using it.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
<gallery> | File:Chat with KingSong representative2.jpg|Screenshot of a chat detailing a victim's experience with a KingSong representative, who, on behalf of the company, accepted payment for a wheel and subsequently geo-locked the device, preventing the consumer from using it.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
File:Chat with KingSong representative.jpg|Screenshot of a chat detailing a victim's experience with a KingSong representative, who, on behalf of the company, accepted payment for a wheel and subsequently geo-locked the device, preventing the consumer from using it. | |||
File:Chat with KingSong representative2.jpg| | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
=== '''Remote Product Disabling on Backend System Error''' === | ==='''Remote Product Disabling on Backend System Error'''=== | ||
In July 2020, the electricunicycle.org the only international global hub for EUC related commiunication was flooded with users reporting their KingSong wheels being locked and don't work anymore. As admitted by their official representative and spoke person Jack Hsu, The company's own official statement, the locked wheels were not due to a user error or a specific product fault, but rather an issue with their "updated backend systems." This indicates that the company's central server or software had a bug that directly impacted and disabled a physical product in the field | In July 2020, the electricunicycle.org the only international global hub for EUC related commiunication was flooded with users '''reporting their KingSong wheels being locked'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=null |date=2020-07-01 |title=KingSong is bricking wheels on purpose. Dont use their apps. |url=KingSong is bricking wheels on purpose. Dont use their apps. |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=orum.electricunicycle.org}}</ref> and don't work anymore. As admitted by their official representative and spoke person Jack Hsu<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hsu |first=Jack |title=official facebook page |url=https://www.facebook.com/frostshake/about_work_and_education |url-status=live}}</ref>, The company's own official statement, the locked wheels were not due to a user error or a specific product fault, but rather an issue with their "updated backend systems." This indicates that the company's central server or software had a bug that directly impacted and disabled a physical product in the field. | ||
Please send me your serial number and I can assist you.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hsu |first=Jack |date=2020-06-02 |title=KingSong is bricking wheels on purpose. Dont use their apps. |url=https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/18928-kingsong-is-bricking-wheels-on-purpose-dont-use-their-apps/#findComment-317419 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=forum.electricunicycle.org}}</ref></blockquote> | '''Remote Product Disabling.''' The company, King Song, possesses the ability to remotely "lock" or disable the wheels of their electric unicycles. This level of control, exercised by a manufacturer over a product that has been sold and is owned by a consumer, is a critical issue. '''''It gives the company the power to render a customer's property unusable, which raises questions about true ownership.''''' | ||
[[File:KingSong official reaction on accidentaly locked wheels.png|thumb|KingSong official reaction on accidentally locked wheels due to their backend error. <ref name=":0" />]] | |||
<blockquote>''"Due to updated '''backend systems''', it has caused some users wheels to be '''locked again'''. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please send me your serial number and I can assist you.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hsu |first=Jack |date=2020-06-02 |title=KingSong is bricking wheels on purpose. Dont use their apps. |url=https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/18928-kingsong-is-bricking-wheels-on-purpose-dont-use-their-apps/#findComment-317419 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=forum.electricunicycle.org}}</ref>"''</blockquote> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||