Nautilus Inc. has lost a ruling in a patent-infringement lawsuit filed against Logan-based Icon Health & Fitness Inc. over Nautilus' BowFlex exercise equipment.
U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez in Seattle ruled Wednesday that rival Icon didn't infringe two Nautilus patents for exercise machines that use cables and flexible rods. Vancouver, Wash.-based Nautilus said it would appeal the ruling.
BowFlex generated almost $1 billion in sales between 1986 and 2002, Martinez wrote, and Nautilus claimed that Icon's CrossBar used technology covered by patents owned by Nautilus. Martinez said the ruling could lead to the eventual dismissal of the case.
"This is further confirmation of what Icon has stated all along — that Icon went out of its way to avoid infringement and did not, in fact, infringe Nautilus' intellectual property," Icon general counsel Brad Bearnson said in a prepared statement.
Nautilus said it will appeal Martinez's ruling and will continue to pursue two separate trademark-infringement lawsuits it filed against Icon.
"We believe this matter will have no bearing on the success of our operating plans or our operating results," Nautilus said in a prepared statement.
The BowFlex machine, originally sold through television infomercials, sells at prices ranging from $700 to $2,600, said Nautilus spokesman Ron Arp. The CrossBar, which had been named the CrossBow before a trademark dispute between the two companies, has
generated profits of more than $84 million, Martinez said in his ruling.
This is the second time that has Nautilus lost an infringement ruling over the BowFlex patents. The case had been dismissed in 2003 and then revived on appeal. Martinez, in his ruling, told both sides to submit a report within 10 days to determine whether any issues remain in the case or if it should be dismissed.
Closely held Icon reported sales of $707.4 million in sales for the nine months ended Feb. 26. It manufactures and markets home fitness and commercial equipment. It has about 3,600 employees worldwide. Its products are marketed under the NordicTrack, ProForm, Weider, HealthRider, Weslo, Image and FreeMotion brands, as well as Reebok and Gold's Gym under license.