Mad Dogg Athletics (MDA), which claims to have pioneered indoor bike spinning in the 1990s, has filed a lawsuit against Peloton Interactive for allegedly infringing on two MDA patents for stationary bikes - U.S. Patent Nos. 9,694,240 (2017) and 10,137,328 (2018) - which were obtained years after Peloton started selling its stationary bikes. Best known for its spinning bicycles, which are now manufactured by Precor, MDA defines itself as “the creator of the Spinning and indoor cycling category.” The two patents are related to “core features of an exercise bike designed to bring the experience of an instructor-led class into the rider’s home,” according to MDA. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on Dec. 14. “Peloton has built its business by freeriding on Mad Dogg’s patent-protected innovations,” argued John Baudhuin, MDA’s chief executive, in the company’s press release. MDA seeks confirmation of patent infringement as well as monetary damages.

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