Garmin’s legal woes deepen as Suunto also files a lawsuit for patent infringement

Finnish smartwatch manufacturer Suunto has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Garmin, seeking damages and a court injunction that would prohibit the sale of a significant portion of Garmin's watch lineup, including popular Fenix, Forerunner, and Approach models. The suit alleges infringement on both software and hardware designs, specifically citing patents related to automatic golf swing detection, respiration features, and wireless communication antenna design. This legal action, which could severely impact Garmin's product availability and market position, compounds existing patent challenges, following a separate lawsuit recently filed by Strava against Garmin.

Analysis

Garmin’s legal woes deepen as Suunto also files a lawsuit for patent infringement Damages sought, plus an injunction to bar the sale of almost the entire range of Garmin watches Hot on the heels of Strava filing a lawsuit against Garmin that claims the American tech company infringed on several decade-old patents relating to segments and heatmaps, Finnish smartwatch manufacturer Suunto has coincidentally filed a suit against Garmin, claiming that it has also infringed on several patents, first reported by the Garmin rumours website. Suunto is claiming damages and a court injunction that would forbid Garmin from selling devices that use the patented technology. This would effectively limit the sale of much of Garmin’s watch lineup. Further patent infringement While the Strava lawsuit was primarily based on software, this Suunto suit covers some software and hardware designs. The patents that are claimed to have been infringed relate to automatic golf swing detection, respiration features, and the physical antenna design that allows wireless communication in a metal-bodied watch. Several of these patents are approaching their expiration, according to Garmin rumours, so it is suggested that the timing of this case may be such that it provides Suunto, if successful, with some degree of protection. With the three patents mentioned above combined, Suunto is effectively launching a challenge on Garmin’s entire watch range, including the Fenix 5 to 8, the Approach golf watch range, plus some accessory sensors, the Forerunner, Instinct, Venu, and MARQ models too. While the timing appears to have had some coordination, these lawsuits from Suunto and Strava were filed in different courts at different times and so are coincidental, at least as far as we can tell. Garmin has yet to comment publicly on this case, though, judging by its response to the Strava lawsuit, which amounted to a strict ‘no comment’, I don’t think we should anticipate one anytime soon. The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox! Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Garmin (GRMN) is facing a significant escalation in legal risk following a patent infringement lawsuit filed by competitor Suunto, which compounds a separate, recent suit from Strava. Unlike the software-focused Strava case, Suunto's claim targets both software and hardware patents, including automatic golf swing detection, respiration features, and a critical physical antenna design for wireless communication in metal-bodied watches. The potential impact is severe, as Suunto is seeking not only financial damages but also a court injunction that could halt the sale of a vast portion of Garmin's product portfolio, specifically citing the Fenix, Forerunner, Approach, Instinct, Venu, and MARQ watch lines. The timing of the suit is notable, as some of the patents are reportedly nearing expiration, suggesting a strategic move by Suunto. Garmin's lack of public comment, mirroring its response to the Strava litigation, introduces significant uncertainty for investors regarding the company's defense strategy and potential financial exposure.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Investors holding GRMN should re-evaluate their position in light of the escalating legal risks, as a potential sales injunction on its core watch lineup presents a significant downside catalyst.
• Monitor all legal proceedings closely, particularly any preliminary court rulings on Suunto's injunction request and any official corporate-level response from Garmin, as these will be key indicators of the potential financial and operational impact.
• Consider the potential for significant legal expenses, a costly settlement, or a worst-case sales injunction impacting revenue; it may be prudent for prospective investors to await further clarity on the lawsuits' outcomes before initiating a position.