Strava sues Garmin over alleged patent infringement

Here is a summary of the key points from the news article in 167 words: Strava, the fitness tracking app, is suing its long-time partner Garmin over alleged patent infringement. Strava claims that Garmin violated an agreement between the companies by infringing on Strava's patents for segments (route sections for performance comparisons) and heatmaps (showing popular activity areas). Strava is seeking a permanent injunction to block Garmin from selling products with these features, arguing that monetary relief alone is inadequate. The lawsuit targets Garmin's Connect platform and most of its fitness devices, including bike computers and smartwatches. The dispute is surprising given the close integration between the two brands. Strava alleges that Garmin violated the terms of their 2015 agreement by expanding its own branded segments outside the permitted Strava-built experience. Strava also claims Garmin used its patented segment and heatmap technologies to build competing systems across the Garmin ecosystem. Garmin has not yet responded to the lawsuit.