Strava Sues Garmin to Halt Device Sales

Strava has initiated legal action against Garmin, pushing for a halt to the sales of Garmin’s fitness watches and cycling computers. The lawsuit alleges that Garmin has infringed on two of Strava’s patents related to segments and heatmap functionality. Strava also claims that Garmin violated a Master Cooperation Agreement (MCA) signed in 2015, which was intended to govern their collaborative development of features such as Garmin Segments.

Details of the Legal Action

Strava’s complaint centers around two key patents. The first concerns their Segments feature, while the second relates to heatmap generation. Both patents were originally filed several years ago, with the heatmap-related patent granted in 2016 and the segment patent in 2015.

Allegations Against Garmin

• Strava alleges Garmin knowingly continued to infringe on their patents, resulting in financial damages and lost business opportunities.
• Specific complaints include Garmin’s implementation of features similar to Strava Segments, which Strava claims violate their patent on segment technology.
• Strava asserts Garmin’s unauthorized use of heatmap technology, claiming that Garmin devices utilize features that aggregate user activity data without permission.

Background of the Patents

Strava’s patent concerning heatmaps primarily relates to generating user preference maps based on activity data from GPS devices. The patent, titled “Generating user preference activity maps,” was filled in December 2014. It includes the collection of user data to suggest optimal routes based on the intensity of user activity in specific areas.

Strava Segments Patent

The Segments patent, covering defined racing segments for tracking user performance, was initially applied for in March 2011. It highlights the creation and matching of user-defined segments based on GPS data. Strava claims that Garmin exploited this knowledge to launch their Garmin Segments feature shortly after the MCA was signed.

Impact on Users

Despite the legal proceedings, both companies have stated that they do not plan on disrupting the user experience for their shared customers. Strava hopes that Garmin will continue to value the connection between their users and Strava’s platform.

Underlying Issues

Strava’s motivation for the lawsuit appears to stem from brewing tensions over recent changes in API policies between the two companies. Garmin’s new guidelines for data attribution prompted concerns on Strava’s side, as they believe the changes could negatively impact user experience and ownership of activity data.

What Lies Ahead?

This lawsuit will likely shape the future of the relationship between Strava and Garmin. Strava’s lawsuit aims to secure a permanent injunction barring Garmin from selling devices that infringe on their patents. This conflict raises questions about the future of collaboration between the two brands, which have historically benefited from each other’s technology.