Strava Sues Garmin Over Segments & Heatmaps — What It Means
Strava has filed a lawsuit against Garmin alleging patent infringement for two core features—Segments and Heatmaps—and claiming a breach of a 2015 Master Cooperation Agreement. Strava is seeking a permanent injunction to stop Garmin from selling devices and services that include these features.
Quick summary
- Strava alleges patents dating back to 2011 and 2014 cover Segments and Heatmap functionality.
- The company is asking courts to bar Garmin from selling devices or software that include those features, which could affect much of Garmin’s fitness lineup.
- Strava’s CPO Matt Salazar also pointed to new Garmin API guidelines (requiring a Garmin logo on activity posts/screens) as part of the dispute.
Context & reaction
The suit is surprising given a long history of integrations between the two companies. Coverage from DC Rainmaker provides a detailed timeline and analysis of the patent filings and suggests Strava’s legal claims may face hurdles in court. Other outlets covering the story include BikeRadar and Android Central.
Key sources:
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What to watch
1) How courts interpret the patents and whether Strava’s timeline damages its claims. 2) Whether the lawsuit disrupts integrations or services for users. 3) Any settlement or licensing outcome that could reshape data sharing between platforms.
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