China's Mobike sued for patent infringement

Mobike, one of China's largest bike-sharing companies, was sued for patent infringement Wednesday.

The Mobike's case was heard in public in the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court on August 16. [Photo: cnr.cn]

The Shanghai Intellectual Property Court said in a statement that the plaintiff, surnamed Hu, accused Mobike of infringing on his patent for a control system on electric vehicles, which was granted by the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) on May 4, 2016.

According to the claims, the control system was basically a QR code identifier. A data storage processor compares the QR code a user scans from the vehicle with the stored graphic data. If the two match, a signal is sent to activate the vehicle; if not, an alarm will be activated.

A man is scanning the QR code to activate the vehivle. [Photo: VCG]

He claimed the technology of the lock system equipped on the bicycles Mobike manufactures, sells and rents is identical with that described in his patent.

He asked Mobike to stop making and using the lock system, destroy the locks on Mobike's current available bicycles, and pay compensation of 500,000 yuan (75,000 U.S. dollars).

Mobike denied all allegations.

The court will announce its verdict at a later date.