In a legal move that has stirred significant attention within the fitness tech industry, Strava has filed a lawsuit against Garmin, accusing the wearable device giant of patent infringement and breaching a 2015 agreement concerning Strava’s “Segments” technology. The lawsuit, which was filed in Colorado federal court on September 30, has surfaced at a time when Strava is expanding rapidly, reportedly eyeing a potential IPO in the near future, which could coincide with the company’s growth trajectory. Strava’s legal battle with Garmin is not only about technology patents but also highlights a deeper conflict surrounding user experience, business strategies, and a clash of industry interests.
The Allegations: Patent Infringement and Breach of Agreement
At the heart of Strava’s lawsuit is the claim that Garmin’s devices and software infringe on three of Strava’s patents related to segment matching and popularity-based routing. Strava, a social fitness platform popular for its robust tracking features and online community, is accusing Garmin of expanding beyond the terms of a 2015 Master Cooperation Agreement that allowed Garmin to integrate Strava’s Segments feature into its devices under strict conditions.
Strava’s Segments feature, which allows users to define stretches of roads or trails to track their performance, has become one of the platform’s most popular and iconic tools. Athletes can log their times, compare their performance against others, and track their progress over time. While the segments are visible to all users, Strava Premium members are given deeper insights into leaderboards and detailed performance analytics.
The lawsuit accuses Garmin of deploying its own version of the “Garmin segments,” along with routing and heatmap features that mimic Strava’s patented technology. Heatmaps, which are visual representations of activity data that highlight popular routes, are a core element of Strava’s platform. Strava claims Garmin’s devices, including Garmin Connect, Edge bike computers, and Forerunner, Fenix, and Epix watches, are now utilizing these patented features in a manner that exceeds the scope of the 2015 agreement.
Strava alleges that Garmin expanded its own “segments” beyond the agreement’s boundaries, breaching the contract that was meant to govern their cooperation. This expansion, Strava argues, not only violates the terms of the agreement but also infringes on its intellectual property.
The Timing of the Lawsuit
This lawsuit has come at a particularly sensitive time for Strava. The company, which is valued at around $2.2 billion according to recent reports, is reportedly preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), potentially as early as 2026. Strava’s decision to take legal action now could be seen as an attempt to protect its valuable intellectual property as it prepares to go public and face heightened scrutiny from investors and regulators.
The lawsuit’s timing also coincides with increasing competition in the fitness tech space. As Strava looks to solidify its market position, its dispute with Garmin could potentially impact its user base, many of whom rely on Garmin devices for activity tracking and syncing with Strava. If Garmin were to break its ties with Strava, it could cause a significant disruption in Strava’s business model and its ability to attract new users.
The Dispute Over Attribution and API Changes
While the legal complaints center around patent infringement and breach of contract, Strava’s public messaging has focused on another contentious issue: attribution and changes to Garmin’s developer guidelines. In a Reddit post on the r/Strava forum, Strava’s Chief Product Officer, Matt Salazar, elaborated on the dispute, explaining that Garmin had announced new guidelines on July 1, 2025. These guidelines require the Garmin logo to appear on every activity post, screen, graph, image, sharing card, and more, when users post their activities to Strava.
Strava expressed its strong opposition to this new policy, claiming that the forced inclusion of Garmin’s logo would degrade the user experience. Salazar argued that the policy amounted to “blatant advertising” that would detract from the clean user interface and overall experience. He also pointed out that Strava already provides attribution for its data partners, while Garmin does not offer similar attribution for third-party devices on its platform, Garmin Connect.
Beyond the issue of branding, Strava also raised concerns about user data. Salazar emphasized that Strava views activity files as user-owned data, which should be freely transferable or uploadable without being used as a marketing tool for Garmin’s products. Strava had attempted to resolve the matter amicably over the course of five months by proposing “less intrusive” attribution solutions, but those efforts, according to Salazar, were unsuccessful.
Backlash from Users
The Reddit post outlining Strava’s stance on the dispute was met with a significant backlash from users, particularly from those in the Garmin community. Many commenters accused Strava of hypocrisy, pointing out that Strava itself had made several changes to its attribution policies and API that similarly impacted user experience. Some users also argued that a small Garmin logo on activity posts wouldn’t hurt the experience and expressed frustration over Strava’s aggressive stance.
Perhaps most notably, a number of users voiced their intent to cancel their Strava subscriptions if the integration with Garmin were to be disrupted. Some even went as far as to state that they would switch to Garmin products if forced to choose between the two companies. This backlash highlights the strong interdependence between Strava and Garmin, as many athletes rely on Garmin devices for tracking and uploading their activities to Strava. If Strava and Garmin were to sever their partnership, it could have far-reaching consequences for both companies.
Industry Reactions and Observations
Industry experts have described the lawsuit as surprising and, in some ways, puzzling. Notably, Garmin has been a key partner for Strava for many years, with Garmin devices being one of the most popular ways for athletes to upload their workouts to the platform. Garmin also introduced its own heatmaps and segments features prior to Strava’s patents being granted, raising questions about whether the lawsuit is based on legitimate claims or a misunderstanding of the evolving tech landscape.
Ray Maker, a well-known tech reviewer from DC Rainmaker, expressed his confusion over the legal action, noting that Garmin’s own heatmaps have existed since 2013, and its segments feature launched in 2014—well before Strava’s patents were granted. Given the long history of collaboration and integration between Strava and Garmin, the sudden legal dispute has left many questioning the motivations behind the lawsuit.
Additionally, Strava’s Global Heatmap, which has been a key feature of the platform, has faced controversy in the past. The heatmap has been criticized for unintentionally exposing sensitive data, such as military bases and even users’ home addresses, raising concerns about privacy and data security. This baggage further complicates Strava’s claims regarding heatmaps and its intellectual property.
Garmin’s Response and Future Implications
Garmin has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, citing its policy of not discussing pending legal matters. However, the company’s response to the lawsuit and any potential counterclaims will likely shape the future of this legal battle.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant ramifications for the fitness tech industry, particularly in terms of patents, user data, and the balance of power between companies. If Strava succeeds in its case against Garmin, it could set a precedent for other companies in the industry and potentially shape the terms of future collaborations and agreements.
Conclusion
Strava’s lawsuit against Garmin is a significant development in the fitness tech world, and it underscores the growing tensions between the two companies as they jockey for position in a rapidly evolving market. With Strava’s IPO potentially on the horizon and Garmin continuing to expand its own ecosystem of devices, the stakes in this legal dispute are high. The outcome of the case will not only impact the companies involved but also influence how user data, patents, and business practices will be handled in the fitness tech industry moving forward. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the legal fight will have lasting consequences for both companies or whether they will find a way to resolve their differences and continue their partnership.
