Amazon and UL secure court order over false safety certification claims on e-bikes and e-scooters
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
Amazon and safety certification organisation UL have secured a court order preventing five e-bike and e-scooter companies from falsely claiming their products were UL-certified, marking another step in efforts to tackle misleading safety claims in the growing micromobility market.
A consent judgment and permanent injunction was signed by U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, resolving claims of trademark counterfeiting, trademark infringement and false designation of origin in favour of Amazon and UL.
The court order permanently prevents the companies from importing, manufacturing, distributing, promoting or selling products using counterfeit or imitation UL certification marks, as well as assisting others to do the same, while both sides will cover their own legal costs.
Amazon and UL originally filed the lawsuit in January against three companies based in mainland China, one company in Hong Kong and one individual, alleging they falsely marketed e-bikes and e-scooters as UL-certified.
According to the complaint, the defendants infringed UL's intellectual property, breached agreements with Amazon, deceived customers and undermined confidence in both the Amazon marketplace and UL's safety certification programme.
The companies named in the case were Jiangmen Meijiasheng Bicycle Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Aibosi Sport Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Aierfeile Sport Technology Co., Ltd., Hong Kong Manchester International Trading Co., Ltd., and Tang Shuhui.
The complaint identified seven e-bike models sold under the Aipas and A4 brands through Amazon, with some products also allegedly offered through the Aipas website while displaying unauthorised UL certification marks.
The ruling highlights the increasing importance of independent safety certification as governments and industry continue to address concerns around lithium-ion battery safety, particularly following a series of high-profile fires linked to unsafe or non-compliant products.
The case is likely to be seen as a positive development for the UK and Europe, where regulators, retailers and industry bodies have been calling for stronger action against non-compliant products and greater scrutiny of online marketplaces. Although UL standards originated in North America, UL certification has become widely recognised across the UK as an additional indicator of battery and electrical safety, complementing the mandatory UKCA and CE conformity markings required for products placed on the market.
Many UK retailers now actively encourage or require independently tested products, with UL certification frequently referenced for e-bikes, e-scooters and replacement batteries because of its rigorous testing of electrical systems and lithium-ion battery safety.
The outcome of the case also reinforces the growing expectation that online marketplaces carry out stronger due diligence on the products they allow to be sold, particularly where safety claims or certification logos are used to reassure consumers.
Across both the UK and Europe, regulators have been increasing pressure on digital marketplaces to take greater responsibility for removing unsafe and non-compliant products, with stronger enforcement expected under evolving product safety and online marketplace rules.
Led jointly by the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) and the Bicycle Association (BA), E Bike Positive aims to provide a clear and trusted signal to consumers at a time of increasing scrutiny around e bike safety.
View the commitment and sign up by visiting the link here.