Nike says Lululemon’s Mirror infringes digital patents
BNN Bloomberg
Nike sued Lululemon, claiming its Mirror Home Gym and mobile app infringes its patents for digital home exercise equipment.
Nike Inc. sued Lululemon Athletica Inc. claiming its Mirror Home Gym and mobile app infringes its patents for digital home exercise equipment.
The Nike suit is the latest in the thriving home fitness industry, where companies are turning to the courts to protect their own products from competition while expanding into new lines of business. Lululemon, once solely a yogawear company, acquired startup Mirror for US$500 million in 2020.
Nike lawsuit’s paints the Mirror as a novice in the market while “Nike has spent decades creating game-changing digital sport technologies” since the 1980s.
To prove its expertise, Nike pointed to several products it’s developed in the field, including the Nike+ iPod system, introduced with Apple Inc. in 2006, and Nike+ ESP basketball and training products, which went on sale in 2012.
Nike holds “a robust portfolio of patents directed to its digital sport innovations for use in or with fitness equipment and apps,” particularly ones that allow users to connect with other athletes on social media,” the sports shoe and athleticwear company said in a complaint filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court.
“The patents in question are overly broad and invalid,” Lululemon said in an emailed statement. “We are confident in our position and look forward to defending it in court.”
