Strava Sues Garmin Over Patent Infringement, Seeks to Halt Watch Sales

Garmin, a well-known manufacturer of sports and fitness wearables, is facing legal action from its former partner, Strava, over alleged patent infringement. The lawsuit, filed on September 30, claims that Garmin violated Strava’s patents related to its popular segments and heatmapping features. According to a report by The Verge, Strava has demanded that Garmin cease sales of all devices using these technologies — a move that could have serious consequences for millions of Garmin users worldwide.

How the Dispute Began

The relationship between the two companies wasn’t always contentious. Garmin and Strava had previously collaborated under a Master Cooperation Agreement designed to ensure that Strava’s features, including its segment system, were fully compatible with Garmin’s devices. These features allowed users to compare their performance on specific cycling or running routes, motivating them to improve through friendly competition.

However, the partnership eventually broke down. Strava’s lawsuit accuses Garmin of breaching their agreement by developing software that directly competes with Strava’s core technologies. The complaint claims Garmin’s new systems mimic Strava’s patented functionality and that the company used its prior access to Strava’s technical framework to gain an unfair advantage.

The Segments Showdown

At the heart of the case are segments — one of Strava’s most defining features. Segments divide running or cycling routes into smaller, competitive sections where athletes can measure and compare their performance against others. Strava argues that Garmin integrated similar segment-based competition directly into its devices without proper licensing.

If Strava wins the case, Garmin could be forced to remove or modify its segment-tracking tools across all supported watches and cycling computers. This would likely affect popular models like the Forerunner, Fenix, and Edge series — all of which heavily rely on such tracking for competitive and training insights.

Heatmaps Under Fire

Another major point of contention is heatmapping — a feature both companies offer that highlights popular running and cycling routes based on aggregated user data. Strava claims that although Garmin introduced a similar tool in 2013, the implementation closely mirrors its patented approach. The company alleges that Garmin “emulated” Strava’s methodology, violating intellectual property rights.

As with segments, Strava is seeking to block the sale of Garmin products that use this feature. Garmin, however, maintains that its heatmap technology is independently developed and predates some of Strava’s patents.

Impact on Garmin Users

For now, Garmin users won’t notice any changes. The company continues to sell its devices, and all current features remain active. However, if the court rules in Strava’s favor, Garmin might need to disable or redesign key functions on existing devices via software updates. This could significantly affect how athletes and fitness enthusiasts track their workouts.

Garmin has declined to comment on the pending litigation, stating that it does not publicly discuss ongoing legal matters. Meanwhile, Strava appears determined to protect its intellectual property and reinforce its dominance in the fitness tracking space.

What’s Next?

Legal disputes of this nature can take months or even years to resolve. If the lawsuit progresses to trial, it may set a precedent for how companies share and integrate competitive fitness technologies. It also highlights the increasingly competitive nature of the fitness tracking industry, where innovation and exclusivity are key drivers of success.

For now, both companies continue to serve millions of active users. Whether this lawsuit ends in a settlement, a product redesign, or a courtroom showdown remains to be seen — but it’s clear that the rivalry between Strava and Garmin is heating up fast.

Tags: Strava, Garmin, Fitness Tech, Wearable Devices, Tech Lawsuit