Strava Pulls the Plug on Garmin Lawsuit After Just 21 Days
In a surprising reversal, fitness app Strava has dismissed its high-profile lawsuit against Garmin only three weeks after filing. The unexpected move has left industry watchers speculating about the behind-the-scenes drama.
Why Strava Sued Garmin
Strava initially accused Garmin of patent infringement, claiming Garmin copied its “Segments” and “Live Segments” features—tools that let athletes compete on virtual leaderboards. The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, alleged Garmin’s “Segment Competition” feature in Garmin Connect and Edge devices violated Strava’s intellectual property.
3 Possible Reasons Strava Backed Down
Legal experts suggest these key explanations:
- Secret Settlement – The most likely scenario: a private deal was struck, possibly involving licensing fees or feature adjustments.
- Weak Legal Case – Strava may have realized its patent claims wouldn’t hold up in court.
- User Backlash Fear – With many Strava users relying on Garmin devices, prolonged litigation could have hurt brand loyalty.
Industry and User Reactions
The fitness tech community reacted with relief and skepticism:
– Users worried about disrupted integrations (like syncing Garmin data to Strava) celebrated the news.
– Some speculated Strava’s lawsuit was a negotiation tactic from the start.
Both companies remained tight-lipped—Garmin declined to comment, while Strava confirmed only that the case was dropped.
What’s Next for Fitness Tech?
For now:
– Integrations between Strava and Garmin remain unchanged.
– The swift dismissal mirrors patterns in Big Tech (e.g., Apple vs. Samsung), where lawsuits often precede quiet settlements.
The takeaway? Competition over features like live leaderboards will only intensify—but outright legal wars may be avoided.
