Strava Sues Garmin in Legal Battle Over Your Runs!

Today’s newsletter is written byis written by Letty from Marathon Media. Letty hosts both, the Marathon Running Podcast and LettyRuns YouTube Channel. Letty from Marathon Media. Letty hosts both, the Marathon Running Podcast and LettyRuns YouTube Channel.

Two of the biggest names in running are in an all-out legal battle. Last week, Strava sued Garmin, and if you log your runs, check the leaderboard, or create routes, this one is worth paying attention to!

The Core of the Fight: Patent Infringement and Breach of Contract

Strava is suing Garmin for two main things: patent infringement and breach of contract.

According to the court documents (which you can find by creating a PACER account, but I’ve taken the time to read them for you), Strava alleges that Garmin is copying or reusing their proprietary technologies. Specifically, this includes the technology that powers:

• Segments

• Leaderboards

• Popularity-Based Routing

In short, Strava is saying: “We invented all of this, and you’re using it without our permission.”

A Partnership Gone Sour

The two companies have a history. They were partners, signing the Master Corporation Agreement in 2015. This deal allowed Garmin to show Strava segments on its devices, but only for Strava users and within strict limits. Strava alleges that Garmin broke this agreement and created its own version of the technology—now called Garmin Segments and Garmin’s Trending Routing.

Strava is asking for damages, attorney fees, and even a permanent injunction, which could force Garmin to stop selling devices that use this type of technology.

The Patent Puzzle: It's important to remember that in patent law, what matters is the exact technical process under the hood, not just how similar the features look above it. If Garmin's algorithms process the data or use different logic, they might avoid infringement. This is why these cases are notoriously complex.

Why is Strava Suing Now? The IPO and API Showdown

The timing of this lawsuit is generating buzz, and I have two main speculations as to why it's happening now:

1. The API Threat: On July 1st, Garmin announced new developer guidelines demanding more attributions (like logo placement) from API partners. If partners didn't comply by November 1st, Garmin threatened to cut them off, meaning no automatic data sync to Strava. To Strava, this new rule likely felt like Garmin flexing its muscle too much.

2. The IPO Strategy: Reuters reported in mid-September that Garmin is planning an IPO as early as 2026. This lawsuit may be a strategic move to boost investor confidence by showing that Strava is serious about protecting its intellectual property and the innovation behind its platform.

The Running Community's Reaction

The running community has had a mixed reaction. When Strava’s Chief Product Officer posted a statement on Reddit—claiming, “This is your data, runners, and Garmin shouldn't be doing that”—he received backlash. Many runners felt it was a PR move and called Strava "hypocritical," pointing out that Strava has previously tightened its own API access.

However, a majority of runners agreed on one thing: If Garmin cuts off the automatic data sync with Strava, they would seek an alternative platform.

What This Lawsuit Means for Runners

Right now, it means nothing. You can still sync your Garmin data to Strava, and your segments are fine.

However, if Strava wins, Garmin could be forced to remove or limit features like its own segments and popularity routing. Syncing could become limited, or Garmin may have to pay licensing fees, which could eventually lead to price increases or higher subscription fees for us, the users.

The best-case scenario for all of us is that they settle, sweep it under the rug, and we all carry on like nothing happened.

This lawsuit is truly funny because who would have thought that a feature as simple as a segment would spark a million-dollar legal battle? That basically sums up what's going on right now.

I wonder what you think. Who's in the right, and who's in the wrong? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Want the Full Legal Breakdown?

For a deep dive into the court documents, the history, and the potential outcomes, be sure to watch the full video on our YouTube channel!

Thank you so much for tuning in, and until next time!