Garmin Uses Linux for Some of the Garmin Products, Now It's Sued by Strava Using Software Patents

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Oct 04, 2025

Users of GNU/Linux can offload data from Garmin devices one way or another (it's not that simple when one is a Free software stickler), but GNU/Linux support aside, many products of Garmin have Linux at their core and the company talks about this [1, 2].

Well, Strava, another surveillance company that competes against Garmin, has sued Garmin. It is in the news right now because "Strava requests that Garmin pause the sale of popular watches and other devices that support segments or heatmapping" [1] and this is about software. Quoting [2], "this means generating a map that shows where other users work out, based on other users’ ride/run/etc data." The lawsuit makes "demands [which] target Garmin’s Connect fitness tracking platform and the majority of Garmin’s devices, including Edge bike computers, and Forerunner, Fenix, and Epix watches." [3]

Why did it take over a decade? Quoting [4]: "Garmin’s first device offering its segment feature arrived in 2014, while it rolled out heatmap smarts to its products even earlier — in 2013."

Software patents should never have been granted in the first place; they can last 20 years when wrongly granted and cost a lot of money - set aside lots of effort - to throw out. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) shrinks this month. It serves no purpose other than making products worse. This has nothing to do with innovation. █

Related/contextual items from the news:

1. Strava lawsuit demands Garmin ceases selling watches

   In a recent lawsuit filed Sept. 30, Strava claims Garmin infringed on patents related to its segments and heatmapping features. As part of the complaint, Strava requests that Garmin pause the sale of popular watches and other devices that support segments or heatmapping, per a recent report from The Verge. If successful, the lawsuit could have a significant impact on Garmin users, particularly those who rely on Garmin devices to track running and cycling events.

2. Strava Just Sued Garmin: Demands Garmin Stop Selling Devices

   The case essentially has two chief complaints, one focused on the Strava Segments piece, and the other focused on heatmaps and popularity routing. This second piece has one primary patent that Strava is saying Garmin violated (patent 9297651), with an ancillary patent 9778053. Both of these cover what Strava titles “Generating user preference activity maps”. In a nutshell, this means generating a map that shows where other users work out, based on other users’ ride/run/etc data. Here’s the exact wording, for funsies: [...]

3. Strava sues Garmin over alleged patent infringement

   Strava is seeking a permanent injunction to prohibit Garmin from selling or offering any products that provide segments or heat mapping features, arguing that “monetary relief alone is inadequate.” Those demands target Garmin’s Connect fitness tracking platform and the majority of Garmin’s devices, including Edge bike computers, and Forerunner, Fenix, and Epix watches.

4. Strava sues Garmin over key fitness features you probably rely on

   Strava filed a patent for segments in 2011, which was awarded in 2015. As for heatmaps, it filed two related patents, one in 2014, granted two years later, and another in 2016, granted in 2017. Interestingly, Garmin’s first device offering its segment feature arrived in 2014, while it rolled out heatmap smarts to its products even earlier — in 2013.