The wearable sensor market is becoming contentious, with two sportswear heavyweights going toe-to-toe over accusations of patent infringement.
Adidas filed suit on February 4 in federal court in Wilmington, Del., charging Under Armour with violating 10 of the German company's patents covering "location-aware" fitness training technology in its Armour39 platform. The patents were registered between 2007 and 2013 and cover, among other things, sensors, software that can measure workouts and the chest strap.
Adidas uses the technology in its miCoach fitness training devices. The miCoach system uses a wristwatch, mobile apps and chest straps to track athletic performance.
"Adidas is moving forward to protect digital technologies core to our miCoach product," the company said in a statement. It is reportedly seeking a jury trial and damages.
The lawsuit says the technology is also being used by MapMyFitness, which was acquired by Baltimore-based Under Armour last November for $150 million.
“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,” Under Armour spokeswoman Diane Pelkey said in a statement, adding that the company "has direct knowledge of Adidas' patent portfolio, including the patents asserted in this complaint."
Adidas claims that its former senior engineering manager, who now works for Under Armour as the director of innovation and research, had "direct knowledge of Adidas' patent portfolio." The suit didn't name the executive, but Bloomberg Businessweek reported that a LinkedIn profile of Mark Oleson, current director of product and innovation for Under Armour, lists him as working for Adidas as "senior innovation engineering manager" from 2000 to 2011.
This isn't the first time the two companies have crossed paths. In January Notre Dame University announced that it was dropping Adidas after 17 years and switching to Under Armour to outfit its sports teams.
