Nike last Wednesday (5 January) filed a lawsuit against sports apparel brand Lululemon, accusing the brand of patent infringement over Lululemon’s Mirror Home Gym and related mobile applications. Mirror gyms start at $1,495. 

According to the lawsuit, Nike claimed that Lululemon’s Mirror relies upon technology that is protected by six of the utility patents that it maintains for an interactive athletic equipment system, as well as for athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems that allow users to record their performance and compete with each other. 

Nike claimed that Lululemon’s Mirror violates Nike's “robust portfolio of patents”, adding that it has spent decades creating “game-changing digital sport technologies.” Nike is now seeking triple damages for Lululemon’s alleged willful infringement, and a variety of other remedies. 

In response to Nike's initial notice claiming patent infringement, Lululemon issued a letter to Nike on 10 December 2021. Lululemon’s lawyer said that its client “respects intellectual property” even as it rejected Nike's claims.

Lululemon also stated: “The patents in question are overly broad and invalid. We are confident in our position and look forward to defending it in court.”

Lululemon is currently in a legal dispute with fitness company Peloton, accusing the latter of patent infringement over the designs of a new line of leggings and sports bras.