Strava Drops Garmin Lawsuit After Less Than 1 Month
The social fitness platform’s retreat ends a three-week legal clash with Garmin that stirred backlash across its user base and cast new light on one of its most important partnerships
Strava has voluntarily dismissed its federal lawsuit against tech giant Garmin less than a month after filing it, ending one of the most talked-about fitness-tech disputes of the fall.
According to a notice filed October 21 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, the social fitness app withdrew the case without prejudice.
The move was first reported by Ray Maker of DC Rainmaker, who noted that the dismissal arrived exactly 21 days after Strava’s September 30 complaint accused Garmin of infringing patents tied to Strava Segments and popularity-based routing. Garmin had not yet filed a response, but did enter attorney appearances on the same day Strava pulled the case.
The lawsuit had accused Garmin of infringing three patents related to Strava’s Segments and heat-map routing features and of breaching a 2015 Master Cooperation Agreement governing how Strava Segments appeared on Garmin devices. Strava had sought an injunction and damages, arguing that Garmin expanded its own “Garmin Segments” beyond the scope of the earlier deal.
A Brief History of the Dispute
The case unfolded against a complicated backdrop. Strava is reportedly eyeing a potential IPO as early as 2026 and has been expanding its platform through acquisitions and new subscription tools. Some observers have speculated that asserting its patent portfolio could have been an attempt to signal value ahead of a listing. Garmin, meanwhile, remains one of Strava’s most important data-integration partners, with millions of users syncing workouts between the two companies’ ecosystems.
Shortly after the original filing, Strava’s chief product officer Matt Salazar took to Reddit’s r/Strava forum to “set the record straight,” explaining that Garmin had introduced new developer rules requiring its logo to appear on all shared activity posts and warning that Strava’s API access could be cut off if it didn’t comply.
The post drew swift pushback from users, many of whom accused Strava of inconsistency and threatened to cancel subscriptions. The debate quickly extended to the r/Garmin community, where others voiced concern about the companies’ long-standing integration.
In the wake of the lawsuit’s dismissal, users across Reddit’s Strava and Garmin forums have continued to weigh in, reflecting disbelief over how the dispute was handled. Some commenters argued the legal move could damage Strava’s reputation ahead of its rumored IPO, while others noted how the social fitness platform remains heavily reliant on third-party device makers like Garmin for both the flow of activity data and its pool of paying users.
Social Fitness Boom
Beyond its legal woes, Strava has continued rolling out new partnerships and community initiatives. Earlier this month, the activity platform teamed up with Airbnb to launch a “rural run-cation” campaign in the U.K., spotlighting scenic countryside routes and stays targeted at Gen Z travelers seeking fitness-driven getaways.
According to research from both companies, nearly three-quarters (74%) of young runners have either planned or are considering a countryside escape built around scenic runs and time with friends. The study, which surveyed 18- to 29-year-olds, found that 68% now identify as regular runners, while Strava data shows that Gen Z athletes make up a third of its global community, up 30% in the past 18 months. At the same time, “city loop fatigue” is setting in. While 47% of young runners typically run in cities and towns, 56% said they feel uninspired by urban routes, citing crowds, pollution and a lack of scenery.
Strava didn’t respond to ATN’s request for comment. Garmin declined to comment.