Peloton and NordicTrack maker settle over tech infringements
Fitness equipment rivals Peloton and iFIT have settled a patent infringement suit six months after Peloton brought the complaint against its rival.
The case, resolved this week, focused on the interactive “leaderboard” technology patented by Peloton and used in its Peloton Bike and Peloton Tread. It was, claimed Peloton, the first at-home exercise bike with an interactive interface providing live and on-demand cycling classes. Peloton’s leaderboard measures a rider’s performance against other riders, with real-time performance and community engagement.
The New-York based fitness firm claimed that Utah-based iFIT infringed this technology in its NordicTrack, Pro-Form and FreeMotion product ranges. Peloton alleged that iFIT was “profiting immensely from this infringement”, quoting iFiT’s product sales hike of 200%, announced in March 2020.
In the lawsuit, Pelaton accused iFIT of attempting to “free ride” off its patented technology. Peloton described iFIT, which currently has 7.3m members, as manufacturing “traditional” fitness equipment.
In a brief joint statement, the companies said: “All pending actions between the companies will be dismissed. As a result of this comprehensive settlement, iFIT has agreed to remove certain on-demand leaderboard technology from its products, and Peloton has agreed to license certain iFIT patents relating to remote control technology.”
Litigious Peloton
This is just one of many lawsuits Peloton is levying against its competitors. Peloton is also pursuing trade secrets infringement against iFIT, as well as various proceedings against iFIT’s parent company ICON in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.
Other lawsuits target rivals Echelon, Mad Dogg and Lululemon for patent, trademark, and trade dress infringement in several jurisdictions.
In the fiscal year of 2021, Peloton had more than 8,000 employees and more than $4 billion in revenue, as well as 6.6 million members. However, it has reported a record quarterly loss of $757 million as post-pandemic demand for its products dipped.
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