Judge vacates Peloton trade secrets suit against iFit
A Delaware judge has tossed a trade secrets lawsuit bought by Peloton against rival interactive gym company iFIT.
In an oral order handed down on Friday, May 6, the US District Court for the District of Delaware Judge Richard Andrews said that the court will grant iFIT’s motion for summary judgment, which is still under seal.
An opinion will be issued next week, the court claimed.
Peloton sued iFIT in November 2020, claiming that the home fitness rival had received a “treasure trove” of trade secret information that could allow it to copy or pre-empt Peloton’s new strategy.
According to the redacted complaint, counsel for Peloton discovered an email and attachments that were “improperly solicited and acquired” by iFIT.
Peloton claims that iFIT’s parent company ICON was already undertaking an investigation into the leaked information prior to being notified. After Peloton had raised the issue and requested information as to who sent the email, it claims that iFIT’s counsel provided “a vague and confusing timeline of events and refused to provide basic information in response to Peloton’s requests”.
The complaint sought a preliminary and permanent injunction barring ICON and anyone who had viewed the email from “assisting in any way” with marketing, advertising or promotion of any service of ICON or any of its related brands, including but not limited to iFIT and is subsidiary NordicTrack.
Peloton also requested compensatory and punitive damages to be proven at trial.
This is just one of many lawsuits Peloton is levying against its competitors. Peloton is also pursuing patent infringement, false advertising, and unfair business practice proceedings against ICON in the Delaware court.
It has also been embroiled in several high-profile lawsuits against rivals Mad Dogg and Lululemon for patent, trademark, and trade dress infringement in several jurisdictions.
In April, Peloton succeeded in petitioning the US International Trade Commission to agree to investigate iFIT’s exercise bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and rowing machines.
Peloton had claimed that “interactive elements” of the exercise machines violate Section 337 of the Tariff Act by infringing several of its patents.
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