In a significant legal turn, fitness app Strava and Finnish smartwatch maker Suunto have each initiated lawsuits against Garmin, alleging patent infringements that could impact millions of users. As the legal scenario unfolds, both companies are seeking to clarify their positions in a competitive market dominated by Garmin’s popular devices.
Strava’s Legal Action Against Garmin
The conflict between Strava and Garmin dates back to 2011, when Strava filed a patent for its Segments technology. This feature allows users to track their performance between two points on a course using GPS. Though Strava received the patent in 2015, Garmin launched its own segments feature in 2014 with the release of the Edge 1000 cycling computer.
Over the years, Strava and Garmin maintained a collaborative relationship under a Master Cooperation Agreement, which aimed to integrate Strava Live Segments into Garmin devices. However, recent developments have led Strava to file three counts of patent infringement and one count of breach of contract against Garmin. According to the lawsuit, Garmin allegedly exceeded the agreement’s scope by deploying its own segments independently of Strava’s framework.
The lawsuit specifically cites that Garmin has enabled segment competitions and leaderboards on Garmin Connect platforms, which Strava claims violates the established agreement. Furthermore, Strava’s claims extend to two additional counts of patent infringement concerning the use of heatmaps and user route recommendations, a patent filed in 2016 and granted in 2017.
Strava is seeking damages and has requested that the court order Garmin to cease sales of its devices that incorporate the disputed technology. This raises concerns among users regarding the potential removal of features or even the halt of sales of Garmin watches until the matter is resolved.
Suunto Enters the Fray
In a parallel legal move, Suunto has also filed a lawsuit against Garmin, alleging infringement on at least five of its patents. The claims include patents related to golf watches, such as technology that detects strike events and determines a ball’s position using GPS. Other claims involve methods for utilizing heart rate sensor data to assess respiratory rates and technology that allows additional metal components in antenna assemblies without disrupting signal reception.
Suunto’s lawsuit names several Garmin watch models, including the Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, Instinct, and Epix series. Notably, the ultra-premium MARQ range is also included in the claims. While Suunto seeks damages due to potential loss of income, it has not requested a halt on the sales of Garmin’s devices, which may come as a relief to consumers eyeing discounts during events like Amazon’s Big Deal Days.
As both lawsuits progress, the implications for Garmin could be extensive, particularly if the courts find in favor of Strava or Suunto. The outcome may not only affect Garmin’s product offerings but also reshape the competitive landscape of fitness technology.
Meanwhile, Strava’s Chief Product Officer, Matt Salazar, took to the Strava subreddit on October 3, 2023, to address concerns regarding Garmin’s application programming interface (API). According to Salazar, Garmin’s desire to display its logo when sharing data with third-party services, including Strava, has led to tensions. He accused Garmin of prioritizing its marketing over user experience, a claim that sparked significant discussion within the Strava community.
The situation continues to evolve, with both Strava and Suunto strategizing their next moves in the face of Garmin’s dominant market position. As legal proceedings unfold, users and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see how this legal battle will impact the fitness technology landscape.
