Garmin, one of the biggest and oldest names in fitness technology, is facing not one but two major lawsuits, and both could have ripple effects across the entire smart watch and fitness tracking world.
Strava and Suunto, two of Garmin’s long-time partners and competitors, have each filed legal action accusing the company of patent infringement. The claims raise big questions about the future of connected fitness platforms and whether users could see disruptions to their favourite apps and devices.
What would happen if users with Garmin watches can no longer upload activities to Strava? Let me tell you, as a Garmin watch wearer and avid runner, it wouldn’t be good news for Garmin.
After all, does your activity even count if it’s not on Strava?
The Lawsuits Shaking Up the Fitness Tech World
It all started when Strava filed a lawsuit against Garmin in the United States, alleging that Garmin’s “segments” feature – which allows users to compare performance across specific portions of a route infringes on patents originally developed and owned by Strava. For context, segments are a core part of Strava’s identity. They allow cyclists and runners to compete virtually on defined stretches of road or trail, tracking times, leaderboards and personal bests. It’s an awesome way to monitor your own progress (as Strava tells you when you beat your personal records) as well as being competitive with others.
Not long after, Suunto, the Finnish sports technology company, followed with its own lawsuit. Suunto claims that Garmin has infringed on five separate patents relating to fitness tracking technology, including sensor accuracy, data analysis and connectivity between wearable devices and companion apps.
For Garmin, this one-two legal hit couldn’t have come at a worse time. The company has been enjoying a strong position in the global wearables market, praised for its robust devices, long battery life and data-rich ecosystem. But, these lawsuits could lead to financial strain, potential product changes or even licensing disputes that impact how Garmin devices function in the future.
All in all, it’s a big blow for Garmin.
Why Strava and Suunto Are Taking Action
Both Strava and Suunto have a lot to lose (and potentially gain) from this legal move. Strava, in particular, has been evolving from a social fitness app into a data-driven performance platform, introducing new paid features and leaning heavily on innovation to keep its subscriber base growing. In fact, they’ve been making a concerted effort to broaden their subscriber base, trying creative strategies like offering long-time users free month-long trials of their premium subscription. And honestly, it’s been effective – at first, I didn’t think I’d be swayed, but after having acccess to all the data and additional features the paid version provided, I simply couldn’t go back. I signed up right away.
So, it follows that if Garmin is found to be infringing on its patents, Strava could reclaim ownership of one of its most valuable user engagement tools, because they’ve become signifificantly more valuable recently.
Now, Suunto’s case appears to focus more on technology – particularly on how Garmin devices collect, process and share fitness data. As fitness tech becomes increasingly sophisticated, patent protection has become a key battleground for innovation. By filing suit, Suunto may be looking to defend its intellectual property and level the playing field in a market dominated by Garmin.
And although Suunto has been on the market for a while, they’ve seen some pretty large-scale success over the last year or so. The brand is poopping up more and more frequently (especially at events and among professional athletes), and I’m even starting to come accross an increasing number of friends and fellow runners who have ditched the old favourites (cough, Garmin, cough, Apple) in favour of Suunto.
What Does This Mean for Garmin Users?
The immediate concern for many is simple: will Garmin watches still work with Strava?
For now, there’s no need to panic. Garmin watches are still working (and syncing), and will continue to work and sync with, the holy grail of fitness apps (proncounced “Strava”).
There’s no indication that the legal action will disrupt existing integrations or data sharing between Garmin Connect and Strava. Users can still upload, sync and analyse their workouts across both platforms as usual. But, that’s for now. It all depends on how the lawsuits progresses.
If Strava’s claims are upheld, Garmin may be forced to alter or remove features that use similar technology. That could affect certain performance-tracking functions or how segments are displayed on devices.
Meanwhile, if Suunto’s broader patent complaints lead to a ruling against Garmin, we could see shifts in how Garmin devices handle data processing or sensor calibration – maybe even firmware updates to bring them into compliance. On the most drastic end of the scale, could this mean Garmin devices will lose a whole lot of their capabilites?
The Bigger Picture: Data, Dominance and Innovation
Beyond the legal drama, these lawsuits reflect deeper tensions within the fitness tech ecosystem as the race for dominance gets more and more competitive.
The line between collaboration and competition is increasingly blurred. Strava, Suunto and Garmin all rely on shared data networks, APIs and integrations to keep users connected, but they also compete for market share and subscription revenue. Safe to say that the balance between these two is tough.
For users, the biggest concern isn’t necessarily about patents or profits, it’s about reliability. People have built years of fitness history across these platforms, trusting them to store and analyse personal data accurately. Any interruption in compatibility between apps could frustrate millions of athletes and enthusiasts who rely on seamless syncing. I know I’d be pretty upset if I lost all my running history – I haven’t been maintaining a 218-week running streak (humble brag) for my health. Well, I have, I guess, but you know what I mean.
Of course, at the same time, this could push the industry toward clearer agreements and better-defined boundaries between companies. In fact, intellectual property disputes often spark innovation, forcing brands to rethink how they develop technology and deliver value to users. Could this be the nudge that the industry needs to get more creative and innovative? Anything’s possible.
What Happens Next?
The lawsuits are still in their early stages, and it may take months, or even years, before there’s a final resolution. Garmin hasn’t publicly commented in detail on either case (and they haven’t responded to our requests for comments, but I think it’s fair to say that we’re expecing them to mount a strong defence, given what’s at stake – basically, everything.
In the meantime, your Garmin device and Strava account will continue to work as normal – no need to overnight order a Suunto (although I’m sure they’d appreciate it). The real question is how long that harmony will last and whether this wave of legal battles will change the way our smart watches, apps and fitness data interact in the future.
One thing is certain – the outcome of these lawsuits could shape the future of the fitness tech landscape. Whether it leads to better innovation or tighter restrictions, the results will likely affect how we track, share and compete with our own fitness data for years to come.
So, let’s see what happens. Your move, Garmin.
