U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Savannah recently seized 2,602 hoverboards after finding they posed a safety risk and used trademark logos without authorization. If the real deal, these hoverboards would have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price in excess of $1 million.
The first shipment arrived at the Port of Savannah, the third busiest seaport in the nation, on December 28, 2015, and was referred to CBP for inspection due to possible intellectual property rights infringement. The shipment originated in Asia and was seized on January 26, 2016, for IPR violation due to merchandise bearing counterfeit marks. Various models of Hoverboards seized at Port of Savannah “CBP works diligently to ensure the products that enter the U.S. are lawful and safe to use,” said Area Port Director Lisa Brown. “Theft of intel­lectual property and trade in fake goods threaten our economic vitality and national security, along with the American people’s health and safety.” The hoverboard, a self-balancing, two-wheeled, motorized platform remains a very popular item across the country. However, major safety concerns have surfaced following reports of fires possibly caused by substandard and counterfeit lithium ion batteries used as a power source.