Wahoo vs. JetBlack: Legal Battle Over Trainers

Summary of the Article: Wahoo vs. JetBlack – Round Two

This article details a renewed legal battle between Wahoo and JetBlack regarding smart trainer technology. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

* History of Conflict: Wahoo and JetBlack previously clashed in 2022 over patent infringement, leading to JetBlack being removed from Zwift’s offerings.
* Zwift’s Role: Zwift initially partnered with JetBlack, then switched to Wahoo, and eventually discontinued its own branded trainer (Zwift Hub One). This left Wahoo and JetBlack dominating the entry-level smart trainer market.
* Wahoo Kickr core 2 & jetblack Victory: Wahoo recently released the Kickr Core 2, updating its popular entry-level trainer with features previously exclusive to the higher-end Kickr. JetBlack then launched the Victory, which mirrors the Kickr Core 2’s features (Zwift Cog, power accuracy, resistance, WiFi, race mode) but at a significantly lower price point ($399 vs. $549).
* New Patent Claims: Wahoo is now claiming patent infringement against JetBlack again, but this time concerning diffrent patents (10,933,290, 11,559,732, and 11,090…). Notably, the Victory was on the market for a year before Wahoo filed the new lawsuit.
* Market Impact: JetBlack’s lower price point is challenging Wahoo’s dominance in the entry-level market.

In essence, the article suggests Wahoo is responding to JetBlack’s competitive pricing with another legal challenge, raising questions about the timing and nature of the claims.