Neobike
Encyclopedia
Neobike is a company and brand of folding bicycle
s, made in Taiwan. The company manufactures copies of folding bicycle designs, including those originally created by Brompton Bicycle
and Dahon
. Neobike's operation in copied products later became Grace Gallant, sold under the Flamingo brandname.
Ltd of the United Kingdom. The remit was to produce officially-licensed copies of the Brompton folding bicycle for sale into Asian and Japanese markets, where Brompton were not able to keep up with demand. For this, Brompton loaned Neobike design plans and specialist tool
ing, in exchange for a per-unit royalty agreement.
Later during 1992 the Neobike company hired a number of ex-Dahon
employees from Dahon's research and development
department and started to produce unlicensed Dahon copies, in addition to its officially sanctioned Brompton model. Original Brompton folding bicycles manufactured by Brompton Bicycle Ltd in England were made of steel, but the frame material for the Taiwan copies was changed from steel to aluminium.
On 31 December 2002 the ten-year franchise agreement between Brompton and Euro-Tai for Neobike to produce officially-licensed Brompton models expired, at which point Euro-Tai and Neobike failed to return loaned tools to Brompton Bicycle Ltd. One week later, on 7 January 2003, Euro-Tai sold its majority stake in Neobike to YTS Manufacturing, an aluminium extrusion company who had already been producing frames for Neobike.
During 2003, Neobike exhibited a—now unlicensed—copy of the Brompton bicycle design at the European Eurobike
show. Unlicensed copies of the Brompton product were then imported into The Netherlands (under the name "Scoop One" and "Astra Flex V3"), into the United Kingdom (under the name "Merc") and into Spain (as the Nishiki
"Oxford Bicycle").
In 2004, Grace Gallant Enterprises was created, and Neobike's interests in the unlicensed copy designs were transferred to Grace Gallant, to be sold under the "Flamingo" brandname.
On 24 May 2006 in Brompton Bicycle Limited v Rijwielbedrijf Vincent Van Ellen BV, Neobike's dutch importer was convicted of copyright infringement of the Brompton design under Article 19 of the Dutch Copyright law. The entire import of Neobike Brompton-copies were seized and destroyed along with an injunction to prevent further imports.
In June 2010, Brompton Bicycle Limited obtained an injunction at the Commercial Court No. 5 in Madrid, Spain, following a ruling that copies of the Brompton being sold under the name "Nishiki
Oxford" infringed Brompton's copyright.
Folding bicycle
A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings and workplaces or onto public transportation or more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane...
s, made in Taiwan. The company manufactures copies of folding bicycle designs, including those originally created by Brompton Bicycle
Brompton Bicycle
Brompton Bicycle is a manufacturer of folding bicycles based in Brentford, London.The Brompton folding bicycle and accessories are the company's core product, noted for its self-supporting compact size when stored. All available models of the folding bicycle are based on the same hinged bicycle...
and Dahon
Dahon
Dahon is the world's largest manufacturer of folding bicycles with a two-thirds marketshare in 2006. The company was founded by David T. Hon, a former laser physicist, in 1982 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with assembly factories in China, Macau and Bulgaria...
. Neobike's operation in copied products later became Grace Gallant, sold under the Flamingo brandname.
History
Neobike International was originally created in 1992 as a joint-venture company formed between Euro-Tai SA of Taiwan and Brompton BicycleBrompton Bicycle
Brompton Bicycle is a manufacturer of folding bicycles based in Brentford, London.The Brompton folding bicycle and accessories are the company's core product, noted for its self-supporting compact size when stored. All available models of the folding bicycle are based on the same hinged bicycle...
Ltd of the United Kingdom. The remit was to produce officially-licensed copies of the Brompton folding bicycle for sale into Asian and Japanese markets, where Brompton were not able to keep up with demand. For this, Brompton loaned Neobike design plans and specialist tool
Tool
A tool is a device that can be used to produce an item or achieve a task, but that is not consumed in the process. Informally the word is also used to describe a procedure or process with a specific purpose. Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations such...
ing, in exchange for a per-unit royalty agreement.
Later during 1992 the Neobike company hired a number of ex-Dahon
Dahon
Dahon is the world's largest manufacturer of folding bicycles with a two-thirds marketshare in 2006. The company was founded by David T. Hon, a former laser physicist, in 1982 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with assembly factories in China, Macau and Bulgaria...
employees from Dahon's research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
department and started to produce unlicensed Dahon copies, in addition to its officially sanctioned Brompton model. Original Brompton folding bicycles manufactured by Brompton Bicycle Ltd in England were made of steel, but the frame material for the Taiwan copies was changed from steel to aluminium.
On 31 December 2002 the ten-year franchise agreement between Brompton and Euro-Tai for Neobike to produce officially-licensed Brompton models expired, at which point Euro-Tai and Neobike failed to return loaned tools to Brompton Bicycle Ltd. One week later, on 7 January 2003, Euro-Tai sold its majority stake in Neobike to YTS Manufacturing, an aluminium extrusion company who had already been producing frames for Neobike.
During 2003, Neobike exhibited a—now unlicensed—copy of the Brompton bicycle design at the European Eurobike
Eurobike
Eurobike is an international exhibition around the bicycle and is held annually since 1991 in the first week of September, on the grounds of Messe Friedrichshafen, one of the largest and most modern exhibition centres in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. The bike show is from Wednesday to Saturday for...
show. Unlicensed copies of the Brompton product were then imported into The Netherlands (under the name "Scoop One" and "Astra Flex V3"), into the United Kingdom (under the name "Merc") and into Spain (as the Nishiki
Nishiki (bicycle)
Nishiki was a brand of bicycles designed, specified, marketed and distributed by West Coast Cycle in the United States, initially manufactured by Kawamura Cyles in Kobe, Japan and subsequently by Giant of Taiwan. The bicycles were first marketed under the American Eagle brand beginning in 1965 and...
"Oxford Bicycle").
In 2004, Grace Gallant Enterprises was created, and Neobike's interests in the unlicensed copy designs were transferred to Grace Gallant, to be sold under the "Flamingo" brandname.
Court cases
On 2 April 2002 in Dahon vs. Hsiao, et al, five senior Neobike employees were convicted and given jail sentences for a variety of business-related offences, including patent fraud. Three employees who had previously worked in Dahon's research and development department from the late 1980s, up until the formation of Neobike International in 1992 were convicted on their violation of signed non-compete contracts.On 24 May 2006 in Brompton Bicycle Limited v Rijwielbedrijf Vincent Van Ellen BV, Neobike's dutch importer was convicted of copyright infringement of the Brompton design under Article 19 of the Dutch Copyright law. The entire import of Neobike Brompton-copies were seized and destroyed along with an injunction to prevent further imports.
In June 2010, Brompton Bicycle Limited obtained an injunction at the Commercial Court No. 5 in Madrid, Spain, following a ruling that copies of the Brompton being sold under the name "Nishiki
Nishiki (bicycle)
Nishiki was a brand of bicycles designed, specified, marketed and distributed by West Coast Cycle in the United States, initially manufactured by Kawamura Cyles in Kobe, Japan and subsequently by Giant of Taiwan. The bicycles were first marketed under the American Eagle brand beginning in 1965 and...
Oxford" infringed Brompton's copyright.