Adidas sued Under Armour, alleging it infringed on 10 Adidas patents used in Adidas’ fitness tracking system called miCoach.
According to the complaint filed in U.S. district court in Delaware, Adidas said it owns patents that provide the technology for mobile applications products that track heart rates, calories burned and other information during workouts. At least one of the patents was filed as early as 2004 and granted in 2007.
The suit claims Under Armour’s Armour39 products, such as chest straps, watches and supporting software and mobile applications, and the mobile products marketed by the company’s MapMyFitness unit, infringe the Adidas patents.
Under Armour unveiled its Armour39 performance tracking products last March and in November acquired MapMyFitness, which lets users map, record and share running and cycling workout information.
Adidas alleges that Under Armour was aware of the Adidas patents because its director of innovation and research previously worked at Adidas as a senior innovation-engineering manager.
Adidas wants an injunction, a jury trial and unspecified damages.
“Innovation is at the heart of who we are as a company,” Adidas said in a statement. “Today, Adidas is moving forward to protect digital technologies core to our miCoach product, which includes patented performance-tracking technology that provides athletes with first-rate training programs.”
In a statement, Under Armour said, “MapMyFitness has been recognized as a pioneer in this category. We are aware of the lawsuit and are in the process of reviewing the complaint.”
