Wednesday, November 28th 2018
Did Spire Copy the Patented X-bows Ergonomic Keyboard Without Authorisation?
Earlier this week, we posted the story of the Spire Ergo, purported as the first tenkeyless ergonomic mechanical keyboard. Soon after its publication, two parties reached out to us. Spire sought a price correction from USD $80 (plus taxes) originally mentioned, to $99.95 +taxes, with an optional palm-rest at an additional $30. The second party, was a company we never heard of, called X-bows.
As it turns out, they (X-bows) have been selling this exact keyboard worldwide for $199, and this is their flagship (sole) product. Their entire brand is built around this keyboard. In an angry e-mail, X-bows asked us to delete the story because they claim Spire has violated its patented design. X-bows says that the Chinese branch of Spire approached them for collaboration, although no agreement was reached between the two companies. We then naturally turned to Spire for some answers.
Spire deactivated its product page for this keyboard, because the product isn't officially launched. The "Specifications" tab of Spire product page mentioned an internal price for the keyboard of $80 +taxes, which we used in our original write-up. Spire asked us to correct this to $99.95 +taxes. After first-contact with X-bows, and after the Spire product page went down, we sought high-resolution images from our Spire contact, who promptly responded with them. Guess what we find? X-bows' claim checks out. Even the images Spire provided show visible X-bows branding. And as the plot thickens, we have reached out to Spire for additional comments.
As it turns out, they (X-bows) have been selling this exact keyboard worldwide for $199, and this is their flagship (sole) product. Their entire brand is built around this keyboard. In an angry e-mail, X-bows asked us to delete the story because they claim Spire has violated its patented design. X-bows says that the Chinese branch of Spire approached them for collaboration, although no agreement was reached between the two companies. We then naturally turned to Spire for some answers.
20 Comments on Did Spire Copy the Patented X-bows Ergonomic Keyboard Without Authorisation?
Here is a recent one from MS called the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
www.bestbuy.com/site/microsoft-natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000-black/7332059.p?skuId=7332059&ref=212&loc=1&extStoreId=223&&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz9HY7_f33gIVCz1pCh18yQ_cEAQYAyABEgJDjvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
It is how the government operates though and I think that was his intended meaning.
I guess if you move a key to one side or the other also gives some ground for a new patent, unless competitors or predecessors cover all possible variations or similar ones (like Valve's touch-enabled controller, or Sony's dualshock patents)Some gaming keypads have similar layout. It should be perfect for FPS games. I'm planning on making a custom board with this layout, cause I'm always turning my KB sideways while playing Quake (less stress on the wrist).Well, it's not really the "people" or "national mentality" problem. It's a simple fact that in PRC the intellectual property belongs to the people(e.g. govt.), so the copyright and patent agencies are basically regulating themselves, and allow companies to use whatever they want as long as it fills the treasury with tax money.
If you soften IP laws in US or EU - you'll have the exact same thing. Business is business.