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AlienRides LLC tries and bans all importation of Electric Unicycles using patent law unless licensing fee is paid.: Difference between revisions

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{{IncidentCargo
{{IncidentCargo
|StartDate=2025-01-21
|Company=Alien Rides
|StartDate=2026-01-21
|Status=Active
|Status=Active
|ArticleType=Product
|ArticleType=Product
|Description=AlienRides is attempting to block all Electric Unicycles from entering the United States using patent.  
|Description=Inventist and Alien Rides filed an ITC complaint to ban all major EUC brands from the US market unless manufacturers pay licensing fees.
https://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg
|Type=Anti-competitive Behavior,Monopoly}}
}}
==Background==
Electric Unicycles are a hobby in the United States where a person rides a one wheel device using the motor to power and balance itself. It is enjoyed by thousands of people with its own events and culture


==ITC Docket NO. 3877==
'''Inventist, Inc.''' and its U.S. distribution partner '''Alien Technology Group, Inc.''' (doing business as Alien Rides) filed a complaint with the [[U.S. International Trade Commission]] (ITC) on January 21, 2026, seeking to ban imports of electric unicycles (EUCs) from five major Chinese manufacturers.<ref name="frreceipt">{{Cite web|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/26/2026-01333/notice-of-receipt-of-complaint-solicitation-of-comments-relating-to-the-public-interest|title=Notice of Receipt of Complaint; Solicitation of Comments Relating to the Public Interest|work=Federal Register|volume=91|date=January 26, 2026|publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The complaint, filed under [[Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930]], asserts two Inventist patents and requests a general exclusion order that would block the named products from entering the United States.<ref name="institution">{{Cite web|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/05/2026-04347/certain-gyro-stabilized-electric-unicycles-and-components-thereof-and-products-containing-the-same|title=Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles and Components Thereof and Products Containing the Same; Institution of Investigation|work=Federal Register|volume=91|date=March 5, 2026|publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The ITC formally instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1488 on March 2, 2026.<ref name="usitc">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2026/er0302_68229.htm|title=USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles and Components Thereof|work=United States International Trade Commission|date=March 2, 2026|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> EUC riders and community analysts described the filing as an attempt to use federal trade law to extract licensing fees from manufacturers that federal courts had already declined to force into a licensing arrangement.<ref name="euf"/>
A federal investigation (ITC Docket No. 3877) has been initiated to permanently ban nearly all electric unicycles (EUCs) from entering the United States. This filing, led by Inventist and Alien Technology Group (dba Alien Rides), targets InMotion, Begode, LeaperKim, KingSong, and Nosfet. Because the USA is the largest global market for EUCs, a total U.S. cutoff is predicted to cause a global industry collapse, leading to the bankruptcy of manufacturers and the loss of all EUC-related jobs in America. Public action is required by February 3, 2026.


Reference links are provided at the end of this post. I will provide a follow-up comment with suggested templates and step-by-step instructions to submit your public comments to prevent this from happening.
==Background==
 
Electric unicycles are gyroscopically self-balancing, single-wheeled personal electric vehicles. Riders stand on foot platforms flanking the wheel and steer by shifting their weight and pressing their legs against padded side surfaces. All major high-performance EUC manufacturers are based in China; no domestic U.S. manufacturer produces them.<ref name="euf">{{Cite web|url=https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/41390-urgent-imminent-death-threat-of-the-entire-euc-industry/|title=URGENT: Imminent Death Threat of the Entire EUC Industry|last=WheelGoodTime|work=Electric Unicycle Forum|date=January 28, 2026|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
The 2021 Private Monopoly Agreement
 
The current crisis stems from a private alliance formed in 2021. Shane Chen (Inventist) and Kevin Grandon (Alien Rides) entered into an agreement where Inventist designated Alien Rides as the sole licensed importer and manufacturer of gyroscopic vehicles using Chen’s U.S. Patent No. 8,807,250 (the "'250 patent"). By filing this complaint under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, they are attempting to use federal trade law to enforce a private monopoly, effectively banning all competitors who do not pay a "private tax" or royalty to their partnership.
 
The Global Existential Threat
 
Electric unicycles are a specialized, high-tech industry. Manufacturers like Begode, InMotion, LeaperKim, KingSong, and Nosfet rely on the U.S. market for the vast majority of their financial solvency.
 
The Fallout: Unlike massive automotive corporations, these manufacturers operate on thin R&D margins; a near-immediate cutoff from their primary revenue source threatens the survival of the entire sector.
 
Global Impact: There is no viable secondary market that allows these companies to survive the loss of the United States. If the USA market closes, the global supply of wheels and spare parts will inevitably vanish for everyone, including riders in Europe, Australia, and Asia.
 
The "Domestic Industry" Mirage
 
To win an import ban, the complainants must prove they are a "Domestic Industry" capable of serving U.S. demand. However, their actual infrastructure does not match their claims:
 
Infrastructure Deficit: Industry standards for manufacturing and warehousing a single EUC manufacturer's national supply require at least 20,000+ square feet. The Alien Rides facility (located at 2256 Palou Ave, San Francisco) is a shared retail showroom, repair shop, and small warehouse of less than 5,000 square feet in total. They physically lack the capacity to support the requirements of one single manufacturer, much less the entire EUC industry.


Operational Failure: Alien Rides has largely retreated from active importation. Their own website presently (as of January 28, 2026) lists flagship models as "Sold Out" or in "perpetual Pre-order," confirming they lack the warehouse space and funding to satisfy the current U.S. market for sales—let alone the entire industry's demand for manufacturing as well.
[[Shane Chen]], a Chinese-American inventor based in Camas, Washington, founded Inventist, Inc. in 2003. He filed a provisional patent application for the Solowheel in March 2010, an early commercialized self-balancing electric unicycle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Chen|title=Shane Chen|work=Wikipedia|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> U.S. Patent No. 8,807,250, titled "Powered Single-Wheeled Self-Balancing Vehicle For Standing User," was granted to Chen on August 19, 2014, and is held by Inventist, Inc., with an expiration date of December 30, 2031.<ref name="patent">{{Cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8807250|title=US8807250B2 – Powered single-wheeled self-balancing vehicle for standing user|publisher=Google Patents|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The patent's primary claims cover a unicycle with "leg contact surfaces" that protrude from the sides of the device at or below the knee, enabling the rider to grip and steer with the lower leg.<ref name="patent"/>


The Legal Shield: The 2025 Ruling
Inventist previously litigated the '250 patent against Ninebot Inc. (USA) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. A jury awarded Inventist $835,220 in lost profits and approximately $30,000 in royalties based on Ninebot's first-generation products. On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an opinion in Case No. 24-1010 affirming that Ninebot's second-generation unicycles did not infringe the '250 patent, while also ordering a new trial on the lost profits award because the district court had improperly excluded evidence of non-infringing alternative designs.<ref name="cafc">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/24-1010.OPINION.11-14-2025_2604045.pdf|title=Inventist Inc. v. Ninebot Inc. (USA), No. 24-1010|publisher=United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit|date=November 14, 2025|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>


On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in Case 24-1010 (Inventist v. Ninebot) that modern EUC designs featuring recessed or integrated side surfaces do not infringe the '250 patent. This ITC filing is a clear attempt to bypass that higher court decision to secure a forced monopoly that the courts have already signaled is non-existent for modern wheel designs.
==ITC complaint==


The Private Tax on EUC Riders
The amended complaint alleges that five Chinese manufacturers import electric unicycles infringing two Inventist patents: U.S. Patent No. 8,807,250 (the utility patent covering protruding leg contact surfaces) and U.S. Patent No. D729,698 (a design patent covering the visual appearance of the device).<ref name="institution"/> The complaint was amended on February 2 and February 17, 2026, before the ITC formally instituted the investigation on March 2, 2026.<ref name="institution"/> The named respondents are all based in Guangdong Province, China:<ref name="institution"/>


These filings are often used to force manufacturers into "licensing fees" to avoid a total ban. If manufacturers are forced to pay a royalty (historically 30%) to avoid being blocked at the border, those costs are passed directly to you. You will either pay massive price increases per wheel, or you won't be able to buy one at all.
* Guangzhou Veteran Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a LeaperKim)
* Dong Guan BEGODE Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a BEGODE)
* Inmotion Technologies Co., Ltd. (d/b/a Inmotion)
* Shenzhen King Song Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a Kingsong)
* Guangzhou JiDongTai Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. (d/b/a Nosfet)


VERIFIED PUBLIC DOCUMENTATION:
These five brands cover the primary manufacturers of high-performance EUCs available in the United States.<ref name="institution"/> Coverage of the complaint noted the named respondents account for nearly all EUC models on the U.S. market.<ref name="eridecorner">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eridecorner.com/shocking-scandal-alien-rides-accused-of-patent-scheme-to-block-euc-imports-and-crush-competition/|title=Shocking Scandal: Alien Rides Accused of Patent Scheme to Block EUC Imports and Crush Competition!|last=Mwaniki|first=Amos|work=Eride Corner|date=January 29, 2026|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The complainants seek both a general exclusion order and cease and desist orders against each respondent.<ref name="institution"/>


Official ITC Notice (Jan 26, 2026): Federal Register - Docket No. 3877 - https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2026%2F01%2F26%2F2026-01333%2Fnotice-of-receipt-of-complaint-solicitation-of-comments-relating-to-the-public-interest%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExR1AyOVZmbWJPM0F6MnFkWnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6iHCbFgzAgSWQNNIR1T0jJdzxSh0MDCmiCYx_DxQRTS80zD76b2R-Fe58NmA_aem_BIPXoS4okrs74VHOzdif2g&h=AT1SxIb1X2Ydkzix8d37r3AV0PwtoGme3XdLCVavdgGtLDMFVhDd20beo44dDmDSvINYTP98D3qgNxNg-J9GGoIWy24Z7DSLtFudvSIiI4ID5ZO7KEeI7E7S3zmFrHSsqjf0PQvMYA_3LWao9w&__tn__=-U-U-UK-R&c&#x5B;0&#x5D;=AT1UDZQ3GorITTx0QUpXY-mjmplmILsFN9pUJH3-h7zKuv2nO7AIOia2EPwP1BT9RO0a6vbc8cAOBQZik33jd008SjT5ED9nguhmb3idsspePSOmJ7X70LQjfeyFfk3JikDShOHcyPjnhdvsT6MqPhmBwNJjCzCMmbnpn5BgGQ
Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1337) empowers the ITC to investigate unfair practices in import trade. If a violation is found, the ITC can issue an exclusion order directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to block infringing products at the border. To obtain relief, the complainant must satisfy a "domestic industry" requirement: demonstrating that a qualifying U.S. entity practices the patent (the technical prong) and that there is significant domestic investment in plant and equipment, employment, or licensing activities tied to the patent (the economic prong).<ref name="institution"/>


The 2025 Court Ruling Clearing EUCs from the '250 Patent: CAFC Case 24-1010 Opinion: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cafc.uscourts.gov%2Fopinions-orders%2F24-1010.OPINION.11-14-2025_2604045.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExR1AyOVZmbWJPM0F6MnFkWnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7PJvRukg3xZMEOfVkN7ZPUIjTdqzMo2LqnMLILdCSKGheMoZvzw87e0eu2dw_aem_t8vHUbVHd8ZLfTMurjVLFQ&h=AT3Zkh8kBQ7zTUrQFK9h2eNy6mN9n9kxYQn-oYQQV2J8aEF-MaiH327-K93yEBY4nAevIU5iYXyL719Cx85cXv35GuoXeDy0wak3mWU2U4zHJez8jiUDxJxWJD722FFZ4MxCCMAKpp2JNaEbCw&__tn__=-U-U-UK-R&c&#x5B;0&#x5D;=AT1UDZQ3GorITTx0QUpXY-mjmplmILsFN9pUJH3-h7zKuv2nO7AIOia2EPwP1BT9RO0a6vbc8cAOBQZik33jd008SjT5ED9nguhmb3idsspePSOmJ7X70LQjfeyFfk3JikDShOHcyPjnhdvsT6MqPhmBwNJjCzCMmbnpn5BgGQ
Critics of the complaint argued that Alien Rides' San Francisco retail and repair shop at 2256 Palou Ave, the address listed for the company in the Federal Register institution notice, did not constitute a sufficient economic domestic industry for a patent covering the entire EUC product category.<ref name="euf"/> Community analysts also noted that the Alien Rides website listed flagship models as "Sold Out" or on perpetual pre-order in January 2026, which they cited as evidence inconsistent with a claim of active domestic industry in EUC production or distribution.<ref name="euf"/>


The '250 Patent in Question: Google Patents - US8807250B2 - https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpatents.google.com%2Fpatent%2FUS8807250B2%2Fen%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExR1AyOVZmbWJPM0F6MnFkWnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6ZAVnMfbwDDUk3pVSksdjx0Hdaq81ux6iCBgOr8xuwnXOffUH3jlKaJzDJgA_aem_TBlJduyOdbll4zjjoOQLkg&h=AT0L4RMglU6XKAClb_NoGbBAIdbvcMmyRc-84S380hw_eRH0YdF6EJ5x0MXK-ebyenE6-d4wpvFKKg0k2myr-wbnXR02ULFr-zN6waEDPz18SLuKEaH6qP1YblSQN2yJeED8cWk1ii6Z9Qf-vw&__tn__=-U-U-UK-R&c&#x5B;0&#x5D;=AT1UDZQ3GorITTx0QUpXY-mjmplmILsFN9pUJH3-h7zKuv2nO7AIOia2EPwP1BT9RO0a6vbc8cAOBQZik33jd008SjT5ED9nguhmb3idsspePSOmJ7X70LQjfeyFfk3JikDShOHcyPjnhdvsT6MqPhmBwNJjCzCMmbnpn5BgGQ
The November 2025 Federal Circuit opinion is also material to the dispute. The court affirmed summary judgment of noninfringement for Ninebot's second-generation designs, finding those products lacked the required protruding leg contact surfaces specified in claims 1 and 18 of the '250 patent.<ref name="cafc"/> Under the claim construction used in that case, a qualifying "leg contact surface" must protrude from the sides of the device so as to contact the user's leg; Ninebot's rounded casing, which does not protrude, did not meet the test.<ref name="cafc"/> Community analysts argued the ITC filing was an attempt to obtain through administrative trade mechanisms what federal courts had declined to grant in years of patent litigation.<ref name="euf"/>


===Alien Rides Response===
===Alien Rides response===
Response from Kevin Granson on FB:


We understand why people are concerned, and we want to help bring some clarity to the situation.
Kevin Grandon, operator of Alien Rides, posted a company statement in response to community criticism on January 28, 2026:<ref name="euf"/>


This filing is not a sudden attempt to shut down the EUC industry. The patent involved has existed for many years, and its inventor has been trying to resolve licensing issues for a long time. For years, the technology has been used commercially without any compensation to the patent holder. That was never going to be a permanent situation.
{{Quote|This filing is not a sudden attempt to shut down the EUC industry. The patent involved has existed for many years, and its inventor has been trying to resolve licensing issues for a long time. For years, the technology has been used commercially without any compensation to the patent holder. That was never going to be a permanent situation.


Patent enforcement does not mean the industry has to stop. Licensing is common across every technology sector and is how inventors are paid while products remain available to customers. The existence of a licensing dispute does not automatically mean bans, monopolies, or the end of EUCs in the U.S.
Patent enforcement does not mean the industry has to stop. Licensing is common across every technology sector and is how inventors are paid while products remain available to customers. The existence of a licensing dispute does not automatically mean bans, monopolies, or the end of EUCs in the U.S.


It is important to separate speculation from the legal process itself. An ITC investigation is exactly that, an investigation. There are multiple possible outcomes, many of which allow EUCs to continue being sold in the U.S. Claims that this will inevitably destroy the global industry are premature and not supported by what has actually happened so far.
Regarding the 2025 Federal Circuit decision, that ruling addressed specific designs and did not eliminate the patent entirely. Ultimately, no one benefits from reduced access, higher prices, or instability in the EUC market. The goal should be a stable and lawful environment where innovation is respected and products remain available.}}
 
Regarding the 2025 Federal Circuit decision, that ruling addressed specific designs and did not eliminate the patent entirely. Questions about scope and compliance are what courts and agencies exist to resolve, and those issues should be handled through that process rather than through fear or assumptions.
 
Ultimately, no one benefits from reduced access, higher prices, or instability in the EUC market. The goal should be a stable and lawful environment where innovation is respected and products remain available.
 
We encourage everyone to stay engaged, avoid misinformation, and allow the process to play out. We will continue to act in good faith and work toward outcomes that support riders, manufacturers, and the long-term health of the EUC community.
 
 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ElectricUnicycle/posts/25736344546036832/?comment_id=25736651642672789


==Consumer response==
==Consumer response==
The Electric Unicycle forms and Facebook are flooded with people against Alien Rides.


https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ALjhSDVsQ/
The ITC published its notice of receipt in the Federal Register on January 26, 2026, opening an 8-day window for public interest statements, with submissions due by February 3, 2026.<ref name="frreceipt"/> The EUC community organized around the public comment process. Riders, dealers, and accessory manufacturers submitted statements through the ITC's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) under Docket No. 3877, arguing that no U.S.-manufactured substitutes existed and that exclusion would harm consumers and domestic small businesses without benefiting the public interest.<ref name="euf"/>


Before February 6th 2026. you can file a public comment: Instructions laid out below:
Calls for a boycott of Alien Rides spread across Reddit, YouTube, and Facebook groups. Community members described Alien Rides' participation in the complaint as a betrayal by a shop that had built its reputation serving the EUC community.<ref name="eridecorner"/> The investigation remained active as of March 2026, with an administrative law judge assigned to schedule an evidentiary hearing.<ref name="usitc"/>


Submitting a formal protest to a government agency like the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is a precise process. The '''Electronic Document Information System (EDIS)''' is the official portal, and because it is a legal repository, it has very specific "rules of the road" that can be difficult to navigate.
==References==
{{Reflist}}


Follow these step-by-step instructions to ensure your commentary is officially received and considered for '''Docket No. 3877'''.
[[Category:2026 incidents]]
----
[[Category:Anti-competitive practices]]
 
[[Category:Patent law]]
===Phase 1: Registration (Mandatory)===
You cannot submit anonymously. You must have a registered account to file.
 
#'''Go to the Portal:''' Visit edis.usitc.gov.
#'''Register:''' Click the '''"Register"''' link on the homepage.
#'''User Profile:''' Fill out the required fields.
#*'''Association:''' If you are an individual rider, select '''"None/Other"''' or '''"Not Listed"''' for Firm/Organization.
#*'''Email:''' Use a permanent email address; you will receive your official filing receipt here.
#'''Activate:''' Check your email for an activation link to verify your account.
 
----
 
===Phase 2: Preparing Your Document===
The ITC will reject submissions that do not meet their technical standards.
 
*'''Format:''' Your document '''MUST''' be a PDF. The system will not accept Word or image files.
*'''Length:''' Your statement is limited to '''five (5) pages''' maximum, including any attachments.
*'''Header:''' Place '''"Docket No. 3877"''' in bold at the top of the first page so it is indexed correctly.
*'''The "Big Five" Content:''' To be legally valid, your PDF must address these 5 points:
*#'''Usage:''' How you use EUCs (e.g., green commuting).
*#'''Welfare:''' Any safety or environmental concerns (e.g., a ban forces people into cars).
*#'''Competitive Articles:''' Are there any U.S.-made alternatives? (Currently, there are no high-performance EUCs made in the USA).
*#'''Replacement Capacity:''' Does the complainant (Alien Rides) have the space/funding to replace the entire U.S. supply? (Reference the <4,000 sq ft facility vs the required 20,000+ sq ft).
*#'''Consumer Impact:''' How a ban harms riders (e.g., immediate 30% price hikes or no parts).
 
----
 
===Phase 3: The Electronic Filing (The "Hard" Part)===
Once logged into EDIS, follow this exact click-path:
 
#'''Start Filing:''' Click the '''"Submission"''' tab and select '''"File a New Document."'''
#'''Investigation Type:''' Select '''"Sec 337"''' from the dropdown menu.
#'''Search for the Case:''' * Enter '''3877''' in the "Investigation Number" field.
#*Click '''Search'''.
#*Select '''"Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles"''' from the results.
#'''Select Phase:''' Choose '''"Violation"''' as the investigation phase.
#'''Document Metadata:'''
#*'''Document Type:''' Select '''"Public Interest Statement."'''
#*'''Document Title:''' Enter "Public Interest Comment - [Your Name/Company Name]."
#*'''Security Level:''' Select '''"Public"''' (and click '''"No"''' when asked if it contains confidential info).
#'''Upload & Submit:''' * Click '''"Add Files"''' and select your PDF.
#*Review the information for accuracy.
#*Click '''"Submit."'''
 
----
 
===Phase 4: Confirmation===
 
*'''The Receipt:''' You will see a confirmation screen with a '''6-digit Document ID'''. '''Capture a screenshot of this.'''
*'''The Email:''' You will receive an automated email from the USITC confirming the filing. Keep this for your records as proof of submission.
 
<blockquote>'''CRITICAL DEADLINE:''' All submissions must be received by the close of business on '''February 3, 2026'''. Filing even 15 minutes late can result in your testimony being excluded from the record.
 
'''Suggested Commentary:'''
 
To ensure the International Trade Commission (ITC) considers your statement, it '''must''' address the five specific "Public Interest" criteria. '''Statements that are just emotional or generic "don't ban this" messages are often disregarded.'''
 
Below are the templates you requested, formatted to meet the specific requirements of '''Docket No. 3877'''.
----'''Template 1: For Individual Riders / Consumers'''
'''Target Audience:''' Commuters, hobbyists, and environmental advocates.<blockquote>'''TO:''' The Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission '''RE:''' Public Interest Comments regarding Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles, Docket No. 3877
 
'''I. Introduction:''' I am a U.S. resident and consumer who utilizes an electric unicycle (EUC) for [daily commuting/last-mile transit/recreation].
 
'''II. Public Interest Factors:'''
 
*'''(i) Usage in the U.S.:''' I use my EUC as a primary mode of green, zero-emission transportation. These devices provide critical "last-mile" connectivity to public transit and reduce urban traffic congestion.
*'''(ii) Public Health, Safety, and Welfare:''' A ban on these imports would force me and thousands of others back into gas-powered vehicles, increasing the carbon footprint and removing a safety-tested micro-mobility option from the market.
*'''(iii) Competitive Articles:''' There are currently '''no''' high-performance electric unicycles manufactured within the United States that can serve as a viable substitute for the models targeted in this complaint.
*'''(iv) Capacity to Replace:''' The complainants (Inventist and Alien Rides) operate out of a shared retail/repair facility of less than 4,000 square feet. This infrastructure is physically insufficient to store or manufacture the thousands of units required to satisfy U.S. consumer demand.
*'''(v) Impact on Consumers:''' An exclusion order would create an artificial monopoly, leading to an immediate 30% or higher increase in consumer costs and a total lack of spare parts, effectively rendering existing vehicles unserviceable and unsafe.
'''III. Conclusion:''' I urge the Commission to deny the requested exclusion order to protect consumer choice and green transit.</blockquote>
----'''Template 2: For EUC Vendors / Repair Shops'''
'''Target Audience:''' Independent dealers, service centers, and small business owners.<blockquote>'''TO:''' The Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission '''RE:''' Public Interest Comments regarding Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles, Docket No. 3877
 
'''I. Introduction:''' [Company Name] is a U.S. small business specializing in the retail and service of electric unicycles. An exclusion order would result in the immediate closure of our business and the loss of [X] American jobs.
 
'''II. Public Interest Factors:'''
 
*'''(iii) Competitive Articles:''' As a professional dealer of [X], I can verify that there are no domestic (U.S.-made) alternatives to the targeted imports from Begode, InMotion, LeaperKim, KingSong, or Nosfet.
*'''(iv) Capacity to Replace:''' To support the U.S. market, a manufacturer requires a logistics and warehousing footprint exceeding 20,000 square feet per brand. The complainant’s shared 4,000 sq ft facility lacks the operational scale to fulfill national demand. Granting a ban would leave the market entirely unserved.
*'''(v) Impact on Consumers:''' A ban would prevent U.S. owners from accessing critical safety repairs and batteries. Furthermore, the Nov 14, 2025, Court of Appeals ruling (Case 24-1010) already established that modern recessed designs are non-infringing. Pursuing a ban against these products harms the integrity of the U.S. retail market.
'''III. Conclusion:''' The Commission should decline to institute this investigation to protect U.S. small businesses and the competitive market.</blockquote>
----'''Template 3: For Accessory Manufacturers (USA & Global)'''
'''Target Audience:''' Makers of pads, fairings, safety gear, and custom battery boxes.<blockquote>'''TO:''' The Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission '''RE:''' Public Interest Comments regarding Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles, Docket No. 3877
 
'''I. Introduction:''' [Company Name] is a manufacturer of safety accessories and performance components for electric unicycles. Our business is a secondary industry that relies entirely on the healthy importation of the vehicles named in this complaint.
 
'''II. Public Interest Factors:'''
 
*'''(iii) Competitive Articles:''' Our products are designed specifically for the imported models from the "Big Five" manufacturers. If these imports are banned, there are no U.S.-made vehicles for which our products can be adapted.
*'''(iv) Capacity to Replace:''' The complainants have zero manufacturing capability for the scale required. A U.S. import ban would lead to the insolvency of global manufacturers, which in turn destroys the global accessory ecosystem.
*'''(v) Impact on Consumers:''' This ban would result in a "monopoly tax" that would increase the cost of this entire sport/industry by 30%, making specialized safety gear and performance upgrades economically unfeasible for most riders.
'''III. Conclusion:''' Protect the global innovation ecosystem by denying this request for a General Exclusion Order.</blockquote>
----'''Filing Reminder'''
*'''Format:''' Must be a '''PDF'''.
*'''Length:''' Maximum '''5 pages'''.
*'''Deadline:''' Close of business, '''February 3, 2026'''.
*'''Case No:''' Docket No. 3877.
</blockquote>
 
==References==
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2026%2F01%2F26%2F2026-01333%2Fnotice-of-receipt-of-complaint-solicitation-of-comments-relating-to-the-public-interest%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExR1AyOVZmbWJPM0F6MnFkWnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6iHCbFgzAgSWQNNIR1T0jJdzxSh0MDCmiCYx_DxQRTS80zD76b2R-Fe58NmA_aem_BIPXoS4okrs74VHOzdif2g&h=AT1SxIb1X2Ydkzix8d37r3AV0PwtoGme3XdLCVavdgGtLDMFVhDd20beo44dDmDSvINYTP98D3qgNxNg-J9GGoIWy24Z7DSLtFudvSIiI4ID5ZO7KEeI7E7S3zmFrHSsqjf0PQvMYA_3LWao9w&__tn__=-U-U-UK-R&c&#x5B;0&#x5D;=AT1UDZQ3GorITTx0QUpXY-mjmplmILsFN9pUJH3-h7zKuv2nO7AIOia2EPwP1BT9RO0a6vbc8cAOBQZik33jd008SjT5ED9nguhmb3idsspePSOmJ7X70LQjfeyFfk3JikDShOHcyPjnhdvsT6MqPhmBwNJjCzCMmbnpn5BgGQ
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cafc.uscourts.gov%2Fopinions-orders%2F24-1010.OPINION.11-14-2025_2604045.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExR1AyOVZmbWJPM0F6MnFkWnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7PJvRukg3xZMEOfVkN7ZPUIjTdqzMo2LqnMLILdCSKGheMoZvzw87e0eu2dw_aem_t8vHUbVHd8ZLfTMurjVLFQ&h=AT3Zkh8kBQ7zTUrQFK9h2eNy6mN9n9kxYQn-oYQQV2J8aEF-MaiH327-K93yEBY4nAevIU5iYXyL719Cx85cXv35GuoXeDy0wak3mWU2U4zHJez8jiUDxJxWJD722FFZ4MxCCMAKpp2JNaEbCw&__tn__=-U-U-UK-R&c&#x5B;0&#x5D;=AT1UDZQ3GorITTx0QUpXY-mjmplmILsFN9pUJH3-h7zKuv2nO7AIOia2EPwP1BT9RO0a6vbc8cAOBQZik33jd008SjT5ED9nguhmb3idsspePSOmJ7X70LQjfeyFfk3JikDShOHcyPjnhdvsT6MqPhmBwNJjCzCMmbnpn5BgGQ
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpatents.google.com%2Fpatent%2FUS8807250B2%2Fen%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExR1AyOVZmbWJPM0F6MnFkWnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6ZAVnMfbwDDUk3pVSksdjx0Hdaq81ux6iCBgOr8xuwnXOffUH3jlKaJzDJgA_aem_TBlJduyOdbll4zjjoOQLkg&h=AT0L4RMglU6XKAClb_NoGbBAIdbvcMmyRc-84S380hw_eRH0YdF6EJ5x0MXK-ebyenE6-d4wpvFKKg0k2myr-wbnXR02ULFr-zN6waEDPz18SLuKEaH6qP1YblSQN2yJeED8cWk1ii6Z9Qf-vw&__tn__=-U-U-UK-R&c&#x5B;0&#x5D;=AT1UDZQ3GorITTx0QUpXY-mjmplmILsFN9pUJH3-h7zKuv2nO7AIOia2EPwP1BT9RO0a6vbc8cAOBQZik33jd008SjT5ED9nguhmb3idsspePSOmJ7X70LQjfeyFfk3JikDShOHcyPjnhdvsT6MqPhmBwNJjCzCMmbnpn5BgGQ
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ElectricUnicycle/posts/25736344546036832/?comment_id=25736651642672789
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ALjhSDVsQ/
===Alien Rides Response===
{{Ph-I-C}}
<references />

Latest revision as of 04:25, 27 March 2026

Inventist, Inc. and its U.S. distribution partner Alien Technology Group, Inc. (doing business as Alien Rides) filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on January 21, 2026, seeking to ban imports of electric unicycles (EUCs) from five major Chinese manufacturers.[1] The complaint, filed under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, asserts two Inventist patents and requests a general exclusion order that would block the named products from entering the United States.[2] The ITC formally instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1488 on March 2, 2026.[3] EUC riders and community analysts described the filing as an attempt to use federal trade law to extract licensing fees from manufacturers that federal courts had already declined to force into a licensing arrangement.[4]

Background

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Electric unicycles are gyroscopically self-balancing, single-wheeled personal electric vehicles. Riders stand on foot platforms flanking the wheel and steer by shifting their weight and pressing their legs against padded side surfaces. All major high-performance EUC manufacturers are based in China; no domestic U.S. manufacturer produces them.[4]

Shane Chen, a Chinese-American inventor based in Camas, Washington, founded Inventist, Inc. in 2003. He filed a provisional patent application for the Solowheel in March 2010, an early commercialized self-balancing electric unicycle.[5] U.S. Patent No. 8,807,250, titled "Powered Single-Wheeled Self-Balancing Vehicle For Standing User," was granted to Chen on August 19, 2014, and is held by Inventist, Inc., with an expiration date of December 30, 2031.[6] The patent's primary claims cover a unicycle with "leg contact surfaces" that protrude from the sides of the device at or below the knee, enabling the rider to grip and steer with the lower leg.[6]

Inventist previously litigated the '250 patent against Ninebot Inc. (USA) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. A jury awarded Inventist $835,220 in lost profits and approximately $30,000 in royalties based on Ninebot's first-generation products. On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an opinion in Case No. 24-1010 affirming that Ninebot's second-generation unicycles did not infringe the '250 patent, while also ordering a new trial on the lost profits award because the district court had improperly excluded evidence of non-infringing alternative designs.[7]

ITC complaint

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The amended complaint alleges that five Chinese manufacturers import electric unicycles infringing two Inventist patents: U.S. Patent No. 8,807,250 (the utility patent covering protruding leg contact surfaces) and U.S. Patent No. D729,698 (a design patent covering the visual appearance of the device).[2] The complaint was amended on February 2 and February 17, 2026, before the ITC formally instituted the investigation on March 2, 2026.[2] The named respondents are all based in Guangdong Province, China:[2]

  • Guangzhou Veteran Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a LeaperKim)
  • Dong Guan BEGODE Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a BEGODE)
  • Inmotion Technologies Co., Ltd. (d/b/a Inmotion)
  • Shenzhen King Song Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a Kingsong)
  • Guangzhou JiDongTai Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. (d/b/a Nosfet)

These five brands cover the primary manufacturers of high-performance EUCs available in the United States.[2] Coverage of the complaint noted the named respondents account for nearly all EUC models on the U.S. market.[8] The complainants seek both a general exclusion order and cease and desist orders against each respondent.[2]

Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1337) empowers the ITC to investigate unfair practices in import trade. If a violation is found, the ITC can issue an exclusion order directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to block infringing products at the border. To obtain relief, the complainant must satisfy a "domestic industry" requirement: demonstrating that a qualifying U.S. entity practices the patent (the technical prong) and that there is significant domestic investment in plant and equipment, employment, or licensing activities tied to the patent (the economic prong).[2]

Critics of the complaint argued that Alien Rides' San Francisco retail and repair shop at 2256 Palou Ave, the address listed for the company in the Federal Register institution notice, did not constitute a sufficient economic domestic industry for a patent covering the entire EUC product category.[4] Community analysts also noted that the Alien Rides website listed flagship models as "Sold Out" or on perpetual pre-order in January 2026, which they cited as evidence inconsistent with a claim of active domestic industry in EUC production or distribution.[4]

The November 2025 Federal Circuit opinion is also material to the dispute. The court affirmed summary judgment of noninfringement for Ninebot's second-generation designs, finding those products lacked the required protruding leg contact surfaces specified in claims 1 and 18 of the '250 patent.[7] Under the claim construction used in that case, a qualifying "leg contact surface" must protrude from the sides of the device so as to contact the user's leg; Ninebot's rounded casing, which does not protrude, did not meet the test.[7] Community analysts argued the ITC filing was an attempt to obtain through administrative trade mechanisms what federal courts had declined to grant in years of patent litigation.[4]

Alien Rides response

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Kevin Grandon, operator of Alien Rides, posted a company statement in response to community criticism on January 28, 2026:[4]

This filing is not a sudden attempt to shut down the EUC industry. The patent involved has existed for many years, and its inventor has been trying to resolve licensing issues for a long time. For years, the technology has been used commercially without any compensation to the patent holder. That was never going to be a permanent situation.

Patent enforcement does not mean the industry has to stop. Licensing is common across every technology sector and is how inventors are paid while products remain available to customers. The existence of a licensing dispute does not automatically mean bans, monopolies, or the end of EUCs in the U.S.

Regarding the 2025 Federal Circuit decision, that ruling addressed specific designs and did not eliminate the patent entirely. Ultimately, no one benefits from reduced access, higher prices, or instability in the EUC market. The goal should be a stable and lawful environment where innovation is respected and products remain available.


Consumer response

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The ITC published its notice of receipt in the Federal Register on January 26, 2026, opening an 8-day window for public interest statements, with submissions due by February 3, 2026.[1] The EUC community organized around the public comment process. Riders, dealers, and accessory manufacturers submitted statements through the ITC's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) under Docket No. 3877, arguing that no U.S.-manufactured substitutes existed and that exclusion would harm consumers and domestic small businesses without benefiting the public interest.[4]

Calls for a boycott of Alien Rides spread across Reddit, YouTube, and Facebook groups. Community members described Alien Rides' participation in the complaint as a betrayal by a shop that had built its reputation serving the EUC community.[8] The investigation remained active as of March 2026, with an administrative law judge assigned to schedule an evidentiary hearing.[3]

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Notice of Receipt of Complaint; Solicitation of Comments Relating to the Public Interest". Federal Register. U.S. Government Publishing Office. January 26, 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles and Components Thereof and Products Containing the Same; Institution of Investigation". Federal Register. U.S. Government Publishing Office. March 5, 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Gyro-Stabilized Electric Unicycles and Components Thereof". United States International Trade Commission. March 2, 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 WheelGoodTime (January 28, 2026). "URGENT: Imminent Death Threat of the Entire EUC Industry". Electric Unicycle Forum. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  5. ↑ "Shane Chen". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "US8807250B2 – Powered single-wheeled self-balancing vehicle for standing user". Google Patents. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Inventist Inc. v. Ninebot Inc. (USA), No. 24-1010" (PDF). United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. November 14, 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mwaniki, Amos (January 29, 2026). "Shocking Scandal: Alien Rides Accused of Patent Scheme to Block EUC Imports and Crush Competition!". Eride Corner. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
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