In a surprising legal move, Strava has filed a lawsuit against Garmin, alleging patent infringement and breach of a 2015 Master Cooperation Agreement. The lawsuit centers on two key features: Strava’s Segments, which allow athletes to compare performance on specific routes, and its heatmap technology, which visualizes popular activity areas. Strava is represented by Joel Sayres and Jared Briant from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
Strava claims that Garmin unlawfully integrated these features into its Connect platform and devices, such as the Edge bike computers and Forerunner, Fenix, and Epix watches. The company is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Garmin from selling devices with these features, arguing that financial compensation alone is insufficient.
The dispute escalated following Garmin’s introduction of new branding guidelines on July 1, which required Strava to display the Garmin logo on every user-facing screen, graph, and sharing card derived from Garmin data. Strava’s Chief Product Officer revealed that Garmin threatened to cut off all API access unless these new branding requirements were met by November 1. At the core of the dispute are Strava’s patents that underpin its segment and heatmap features.
Strava, Inc. v. Garmin Ltd et al (1:25-cv-03074): Patent deep-dive
Defining and matching segments with precision
Traditional GPS tracking lets athletes record their location, time, and performance using wearable devices. While useful for reviewing personal workouts, it makes comparing efforts on the same route with others difficult. Athletes have to manually sync their start and stop times or estimate the beginning and end of a segment, which is often inefficient and inaccurate. This makes it hard to fairly compare performance across different users or sessions.
U.S. Patent No. 9,116,922 addresses these issues by introducing a method for defining segments and automatically matching recorded efforts to those segments. A segment refers to a specific portion of a route, such as a hill climb or stretch of road, and can be user-defined using a visual interface. The system uses GPS data and performance metrics to identify efforts that match these segments, either loosely or tightly, based on configurable thresholds.
It establishes virtual start and finish lines and uses the orientation of the path to determine whether an athlete’s effort crosses these lines. The matched efforts are then compared using metrics like heart rate, speed, and power. This enables accurate, automated comparisons of athletic performance without requiring manual synchronization, while supporting a wide range of devices and applications.
The patent, titled “Defining and matching segments”, was filed on March 31, 2011 and granted on August 25, 2015. The patent lists Mark Shaw and Davis Kitchel as inventors.
Turning athlete data into smarter maps
Most routing tools for athletes rely on standard road types like arterial or local roads, without considering how runners or cyclists actually use them. As a result, the suggested routes are often not ideal. To better understand athlete behavior, current methods like placing sensors or manually counting cyclists are time-consuming and limited. Existing elevation data is also often too basic. For example, cyclists need detailed grade information to plan their effort or choose the right gear, but global maps usually do not provide enough detail for this kind of planning.
U.S. Patent No. 9,778,053 solves these issues by generating a user preference map based on aggregated GPS and auxiliary data from real athlete activities. It collects GPS traces and metrics like elevation, heart rate, and power from devices such as smartwatches and phones, then maps those activities to specific roads or paths.
By analyzing which routes are most frequently used and matching elevation data from user devices with third-party sources like the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the system creates a rich, data-driven representation of actual athlete preferences and experiences. Users can then input route criteria such as surface type, elevation, or scenic value, and receive tailored suggestions. This map can also support real-time routing, help cities identify popular corridors for infrastructure improvements, and enable route planning optimized for energy efficiency.
The patent, titled “Generating user preference activity maps”, was filed on February 16, 2016 and granted on October 3, 2017. The patent lists Davis Kitchel as the inventor.
Both patents were represented by Lee Van Pelt, Janyce Mitchell, William James and others from Van Pelt, Yi & James.
Blending fitness and tech with Strava and Garmin
Strava is an online platform and mobile application designed for athletes of all levels, with a focus on running, cycling, and triathlon. It helps users track their workouts by syncing data from smart devices like GPS watches, smartphones, and bike computers.
Founded in 2009 by Michael Horvath and Mark Gainey, Strava was inspired by their desire to recreate the sense of connection and friendly competition they experienced as college athletes. Today, the platform has grown to a community of more than 150 million people, offering tools for route discovery, activity analysis, and performance comparison.
Garmin, founded in 1989 by Gary Burrell and Min Kao, began with advanced GPS navigation systems for the aviation industry. Since then, the company has grown into a global leader across aviation, marine, automotive, outdoor, and fitness markets. With more than 22,000 employees in 35 countries, Garmin designs products that help people get the most out of their time outdoors and stay connected to the activities they love. From smartwatches to bike computers, Garmin’s technology is built for durability, precision, and ease of use.
From here, we will explore Strava’s patenting activity and how it supports its features and growth.
Strava: Patenting Activity
Strava’s patent portfolio highlights its focus on location-based performance tracking and segment analytics. Early filings such as US9664518 and US9291713 focus on comparing athletic performance relative to location and providing real-time segment feedback, which are core features of Strava’s platform.
Other patents filed between 2011 and 2014 cover segment definition, validation, and elevation data generation, showing a clear effort to build accurate and dynamic map-based performance tools for runners and cyclists. As of this writing, Strava’s patents can be grouped into the following patent families:
| Patent Family | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
| U.S. Patent No. 9,664,518 | Method and system for comparing performance statistics with respect to location | 2010-08-27 | 2011-08-22 |
| U.S. Patent No. 9,291,713 | Providing real-time segment performance information | 2011-03-31 | 2012-03-29 |
| U.S. Patent No. 9,116,922 | Defining and matching segments | 2011-03-31 | 2011-03-31 |
| U.S. Patent No. 8,996,301 | Segment validation | 2012-03-12 | 2013-03-07 |
| U.S. Patent No. 9,267,798 | Generating elevation data for maps | 2013-12-11 | 2014-12-09 |
| U.S. Patent No. 10,228,258 | Determining top venues from aggregated user activity location data | 2014-12-03 | 2015-12-01 |
| U.S. Patent No. 10,429,192 | Generating trail network maps | 2015-09-16 | 2016-09-14 |
| U.S. Patent No. 10,515,101 | Determining clusters of similar activities | 2016-04-19 | 2017-04-10 |
| U.S. Patent No. 11,623,121 | Using aggregate activity data to generate a grade adjusted pace model | 2018-09-14 | 2019-03-05 |
In later years, Strava expanded its innovation efforts to include data aggregation and user behavior analysis. Patents from 2015 onward cover systems for generating trail maps based on user activity, clustering similar types of workouts, and using collective data to create grade-adjusted pace models. These developments support features like heatmaps, personalized route suggestions, and more precise performance comparisons. Together, the patents reflect Strava’s shift from simple activity tracking to a more intelligent and data-informed fitness experience.
Strava: Top Technology Areas
Strava’s patent portfolio spans several key technology areas, with emphasis on G01C and G06F. G01C relates to measuring distances, surveying, and navigation, which supports Strava’s GPS-based tracking features. G06F covers electric digital data processing, enabling the platform’s data analysis, activity recording, and performance insights. Another focus is A63B, which refers to apparatus for physical training and reflects Strava’s investment in tools to enhance athletic performance and training experiences.
Additional technologies include G01S for radio-direction finding, A61B for medical diagnosis and surgery, and G06Q for information and communication technology. These classifications help expand Strava’s capability to interpret and integrate various data types. The inclusion of G16H for healthcare informatics and H04W for wireless communication networks further highlights the company’s direction toward health-aware, connected systems. Together, these classifications show Strava’s strategy to support not just tracking and social features, but also deeper health, training, and device integration.
Strava: Top Law Firms
Strava works with a small number of law firms to manage its patents. Most of its filings are handled by Van Pelt, Yi & James, with attorney Jia-Ning Qu leading the work. This shows a steady partnership and a clear approach to protecting Strava’s ideas.
WP Thompson also supports Strava’s filings, with attorneys Jacqueline Carol Freeman and David Alan Gill involved. Other firms, such as China Patent Agent and Meisei International Patent Firm, appear to provide more limited but strategic support, likely for international coverage or jurisdiction-specific expertise.
