Get the latest tech news How to check Is Temu legit? How to delete trackers
NEWS
Fitbit Inc

Judge: Fitbit did not steal Jawbone trade secrets

Brett Molina
USA TODAY

A federal trade judge ruled Fitbit did not swipe trade secrets from rival fitness tracker maker Jawbone, a move that could have resulted in a sales ban for Fitbit.

In this Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, file photo, Brett Broviak, a manager of respiratory and sleep services at IU Health North Hospital, shows off his Fitbit fitness tracker for the camera on the hospital's campus in Carmel, Ind.

Last year, Jawbone sued Fitbit, alleging the company poached employees and acquired trade secrets about the company.

However, in a statement released by Fitbit, the International Trade Commission ruled Fitbit did not misappropriate any trade secrets from Jawbone.

Jawbone sues Fitbit, alleges theft of trade secrets

"From the outset of this litigation, we have maintained that Jawbone’s allegations were utterly without merit and nothing more than a desperate attempt by Jawbone to disrupt Fitbit’s momentum to compensate for their own lack of success in the market," said Fitbit CEO and co-founder James Park in a statement.

Shares of Fitbit are up nearly 1% in afternoon trading Wednesday.

In a statement, Jawbone says they will seek a review of the judge's ruling. Jawbone's broader lawsuit over trade secrets allegedly swiped by Fitbit will go to a jury trial in California state court.

"Jawbone is confident it will prevail when the full scope of its claims is heard by the jury," read a portion of Jawbone's statement.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

Featured Weekly Ad