Strava has reportedly withdrawn its lawsuit against Garmin over alleged infringement of segmentation and heatmap patents. The decision was made out of concern for damaging its relationship with Garmin and considering Garmin's strength in legal cases.
Reports state that the lawsuit may not be strong, especially regarding the alleged infringement of segmentation patents. Therefore, the lawsuit risks causing Strava's patents to be revoked, thus affecting the company's position in the wearable device industry.
In addition, Garmin is a major partner of Strava and a major contributor to paid subscription revenue. Many Garmin users are Strava customers, while data from Garmin devices helps improve the route tracking functionality on the Strava platform.
If Garmin were to end the relationship or Strava were to withdraw support, it could seriously affect the continued operation of Strava. Garmin is also said to have an excellent track record in defending patent infringement claims and also has an extensive patent collection.
While the withdrawal of this lawsuit is not a sign of Strava's downfall, it still puts pressure on the company's position. Without Garmin's support, Strava will have to find other sources of revenue, including partnerships with other wearable device manufacturers.
Meanwhile, Garmin has reportedly formed a new partnership with Strava's competitor Komoot. This move indirectly suggests that Garmin may no longer be interested in continuing its relationship with Strava after the lawsuit issue.
