Peloton catches a breather with victory in patent case
Texas court rejects an infringement suit filed by Mad Dogg Athletics, but the US exercise equipment company faces a host of similar charges
16 September 2021 - 12:02
byAgency Staff
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A Peloton exercise bike is shown in this file photo. Picture: ADAM GLANZMAN / BLOOMBERG
Peloton Interactive, whose popularity with home exercisers has resulted in a flurry of legal battles from its rivals, got one of the patent suits against it dismissed on Wednesday.
A federal judge in Texas rejected an infringement suit filed against Peloton after ruling that Mad Dogg Athletics couldn’t show its two patents covered anything more than the abstract idea of a display to provide instructions to riders of stationary bikes.
While sales of Peloton’s $2,000-plus stationary bicycles have soared during the coronavirus pandemic, the New York-based company has been hit with patent-infringement suits from competitors, including NordicTrack maker Icon Health & Fitness, that accuse it of copying their technology. Even streaming company Dish Network has filed a complaint, seeking to block imports of the Peloton bikes.
Compared with those companies, the suit by Mad Dogg, a relatively small player based in Venice, California, wasn’t at the top of Peloton’s legal problems. Still, it has been aggressive in its counterattacks. It filed petitions seeking to cancel trademarks for use of the word “spinning” that Mad Dogg has held for decades, arguing that it is now generic for any exercise class involving a stationary bike. A hearing is likely next year.
“We are thrilled that the court granted our motion to dismiss Mad Dogg’s case against Peloton in full and closed the case,” said Peloton’s lead attorney in the case, Steve Feldman of Latham & Watkins.
A spokesperson for Mad Dogg said neither company officials nor its lawyers were available to comment on the ruling.
US District Judge Rodney Gilstrap in Marshall, Texas, said Mad Dogg could try again to file the suit but “there is a clear absence of factual allegations to support the eligibility of the patents-in-suit.”
Privately owned Mad Dogg filed the suit in December, claiming it was entitled to an unspecified amount of royalties from Peloton. Officials with the company had no immediate comment.
Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Peloton catches a breather with victory in patent case
Texas court rejects an infringement suit filed by Mad Dogg Athletics, but the US exercise equipment company faces a host of similar charges
Peloton Interactive, whose popularity with home exercisers has resulted in a flurry of legal battles from its rivals, got one of the patent suits against it dismissed on Wednesday.
A federal judge in Texas rejected an infringement suit filed against Peloton after ruling that Mad Dogg Athletics couldn’t show its two patents covered anything more than the abstract idea of a display to provide instructions to riders of stationary bikes.
While sales of Peloton’s $2,000-plus stationary bicycles have soared during the coronavirus pandemic, the New York-based company has been hit with patent-infringement suits from competitors, including NordicTrack maker Icon Health & Fitness, that accuse it of copying their technology. Even streaming company Dish Network has filed a complaint, seeking to block imports of the Peloton bikes.
Compared with those companies, the suit by Mad Dogg, a relatively small player based in Venice, California, wasn’t at the top of Peloton’s legal problems. Still, it has been aggressive in its counterattacks. It filed petitions seeking to cancel trademarks for use of the word “spinning” that Mad Dogg has held for decades, arguing that it is now generic for any exercise class involving a stationary bike. A hearing is likely next year.
“We are thrilled that the court granted our motion to dismiss Mad Dogg’s case against Peloton in full and closed the case,” said Peloton’s lead attorney in the case, Steve Feldman of Latham & Watkins.
A spokesperson for Mad Dogg said neither company officials nor its lawyers were available to comment on the ruling.
US District Judge Rodney Gilstrap in Marshall, Texas, said Mad Dogg could try again to file the suit but “there is a clear absence of factual allegations to support the eligibility of the patents-in-suit.”
Privately owned Mad Dogg filed the suit in December, claiming it was entitled to an unspecified amount of royalties from Peloton. Officials with the company had no immediate comment.
Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
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