Strava Sues Garmin Over Alleged Patent Infringement

Strava sues Garmin over alleged patent infringement in a lawsuit that could shake the fitness tech industry. Filed in the US District Court of Colorado on September 30th, Strava claims Garmin copied key features like segments and heatmaps, both of which Strava holds patents for. The company is asking the court to block Garmin from selling most of its current devices or offering its Garmin Connect platform.

This legal battle marks a dramatic turn in a partnership that once fueled innovation across the fitness tracking world.

What The Lawsuit Is About

Strava is seeking a permanent injunction against Garmin. If granted, it could prevent Garmin from selling products that use Strava’s patented tech, including:

• Garmin Connect’s fitness tracking platform

• Edge bike computers

• Forerunner, Fenix, and Epix watches

Strava argues that financial damages alone aren’t enough since Garmin’s use of these features directly threatens its competitive edge in the market.

A Surprising Rift Between Fitness Giants

The lawsuit is especially shocking because Strava and Garmin have been close partners for years. Strava’s own reports even showed that Garmin’s decade-old Forerunner 235 was one of the most popular watches among Strava users worldwide.

But now, Strava says Garmin violated their Master Cooperation Agreement (MCA), signed in 2015. That agreement allowed Garmin to integrate Strava Live Segments into its devices. Strava alleges Garmin went beyond the terms of that deal, expanding Garmin-branded segments and heatmap features without authorization.

The Patent Timeline

• 2011 – Strava filed its patent for segments, granted in 2015.

• 2014 – Garmin launched the Edge 1000 cycle computer with its own segment system.

• 2015 – Garmin and Strava signed the MCA to collaborate on Strava Live Segments.

• 2014–2017 – Strava filed additional patents covering heatmaps and popularity-based routing.

Strava now claims Garmin’s products infringe on these patents, even though Garmin first introduced heatmaps as early as 2013—before Strava’s filings.

Strava’s Statement On The Dispute

Strava spokesperson Brian Bell accused Garmin of using its limited access to Strava’s features as a way to copy them for its own ecosystem.

“Garmin received limited permission from Strava to implement Strava Segments on their devices; however, they leveraged this access to carefully study those features, copy them, and then release them as Garmin features. As a result, Strava has sued Garmin to protect its patented inventions.”

Strava added that it does not intend to disrupt Garmin users’ ability to sync their data with Strava but insists it had no choice but to file suit.

This case could reshape the future of fitness tech integrations. If Strava wins, Garmin may be forced to strip features from its devices, potentially frustrating millions of users. On the other hand, a ruling in Garmin’s favor could weaken Strava’s ability to defend its intellectual property in a highly competitive market.

For now, the fitness world is watching closely as two of its biggest names battle it out in court.