Legal
Legal cases
Antitrust actions, IP disputes, class actions, and labor lawsuits that set precedent, reshape competitive dynamics, and create operational risks for sporting goods companies.
Legal Filings
Two more athletes sue PUMA over carbon-plate shoes
Two more elite sprinters filed suits in Massachusetts, with the same counsel as Abby Steiner. Nike faces a parallel case.
Two out of three demands accepted but it’s no deal
The drag activist agrees to two of Patagonia’s three demands, but refusing the third keeps the lawsuit alive into Pride month.
Patagonia v. Pattie Gonia: Could the evidence backfire?
Patagonia filed a lawsuit to protect its brand. Do its own exhibits contradict claims about the damage associations with the drag queen cause?
Joola settles pickleball patent row with Paddletek
Paddle maker Paddletek and ProXR Pickleball agree to add Joola’s propulsion core patent number to products and pay royalties.
Nike may pocket the tariff refund. Consumers want it back.
Footwear giant raised prices by up to $10 to offset $1bn in import costs. Now the tariffs are gone — and so is its commitment to refund shoppers.
Sprinter sues Puma and Mercedes F1 over carbon shoes
Two-time world sprint champion Abby Steiner is suing Puma and the Mercedes F1 team, claiming their carbon-plate shoes ended her career.
TPG acquires US college sports commercialization giant
TPG is acquiring Learfield, the commercialization platform serving 1,200 US colleges, in a deal valued at about $2 billion.
Capstone Partners: outdoor recreation M&A doubles in 2026
Transaction volume in the outdoor recreation sector has doubled year-to-date in 2026, even as broader consumer M&A contracted.
Texas Attorney General probes Lululemon over PFAS
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating whether Lululemon’s wellness-driven marketing misled consumers about PFAS in its clothing.
Adidas sued over gender bias in women’s sport
A lawsuit filed in Oregon accuses Adidas of dismissing a women’s basketball executive after she reported inequality and an athlete safety breach.
Joola sues 11 paddle brands over pickleball patent
The table tennis and pickleball specialist is seeking a US import ban on paddles from competitors including Adidas Pickleball and Paddletek.
Judge vindicates Lululemon in Nike Flyknit lawsuit
A federal judge has invalidated Nike’s Flyknit patent claims, overturning a March jury verdict and $355,450 fine against Lululemon.
First Big Tech loss in US court over trade practices goes to Meta, which will appeal
A US jury awards New Mexico $375m in the first successful state lawsuit over Big Tech harm to children — with 40 more cases in the pipeline.
Puma loses Singapore trademark fight with Sun Day Red
Singapore tribunal finds Puma’s big cat and Sun Day Red’s tiger marks distinct – limiting broad animal-logo IP protection in sportswear.
Lycra files for bankruptcy
The fiber supplier behind activewear and denim across global supply chains files with near-unanimous creditor backing for a 45-day restructuring.
Australian regulator fines Lululemon for email spam
Australia’s regulator has penalized Lululemon for embedding promotions in service emails during the 2024 holiday period.
Sports brands and retailers in line for tariff refunds
A court order now extends refund rights to all importers — not just those who sued. But the government is already appealing.
PTPA seeking outside capital, per report
Players’ union explores $1bn raise to reshape tennis governance and commercial control.
Puma loses EU stripe trademark case
EU court rejects Puma’s opposition to Chinese entrepreneur’s stripe-based trademark, highlighting limits of protecting basic geometric elements.
Nike pays Thai workers after five years
After nearly five years of advocacy, Nike agrees to compensate 3,300 Thai factory workers who were allegedly coerced into unpaid leave during the pandemic.
Milan prosecutors target 13 luxury brands over labor exploitation
Prosecutors order document delivery from major luxury brands as investigation into exploitative subcontracting networks widens.
Court clears Adidas in Ye investor case
A US court ruled Adidas did not mislead investors over risks tied to its Yeezy partnership with Kanye West (Ye).
Nicklaus Companies files for bankruptcy
Nicklaus Companies has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware, weeks after a $50 million defamation judgment in favour of founder Jack Nicklaus.
Jack Nicklaus wins $50 million in lawsuit against his former business
The defamation lawsuit against Nicklaus Companies was filed by the former pro golfer in 2023.
Strava withdraws patent lawsuit against Garmin
Strava has voluntarily withdrawn its patent suit against Garmin, ending the case only weeks after filing it in U.S. court.
The Olympus of international sports arbitration may be crumbling
A landmark ruling from the ECJ could affect the sporting goods industry and trade
Squeaky shoes, big suit: On faces class action
A class action claims On’s Cloudmonster shoes squeak loudly – plaintiffs call it “embarrassing” and say On excluded the defect from its warranty.
René Benko sentenced to two years for creditor fraud
Austrian investor René Benko has been sentenced to two years in prison for damaging creditors during his personal insolvency proceedings.
Patent disputes overlap Garmin with Strava and Suunto
Two major fitness and outdoor technology brands have filed separate lawsuits alleging patent infringement by the US GPS and wearables manufacturer.
Amazon to pay $2.5bn over deceptive subscriptions
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has secured a settlement with Amazon.
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