Lululemon Athletica Canada Inc. has launched a lawsuit against exercise equipment company Peloton Interactive Inc., accusing the stationary bicycle and treadmill maker of patent infringement.

In documents filed in a U.S. court on Monday, the Vancouver-based athletic apparel retailer claims Peloton is infringing on multiple design patents and selling 91裸聊视频渒nock-off91裸聊视频� bras and pants.

The lawsuit comes after Peloton ended a co-branding agreement with Lululemon earlier this year and announced its own private label, Peloton Apparel, in September.

Lululemon alleges Peloton is selling 91裸聊视频渃opy-cat products91裸聊视频� that closely resemble several of the retailer91裸聊视频檚 best-selling designs, including a pair of workout pants and a popular strappy sports bra.

91裸聊视频淯nlike innovators such as Lululemon, Peloton did not spend the time, effort and expense to create an original product line,91裸聊视频� Lululemon alleged in court documents.

91裸聊视频淚nstead, Peloton imitated several of Lululemon91裸聊视频檚 innovative designs and sold knock-offs of Lululemon91裸聊视频檚 products, claiming them as its own.91裸聊视频�

The retailer said it initially sent Peloton a cease-and-desist letter, laying out its concerns with the exercise equipment maker91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渂latant misappropriation91裸聊视频� of Lululemon91裸聊视频檚 product designs, according to court documents.

Lululemon said Peloton requested an extension to respond to those allegations, but then used the delay to 91裸聊视频渟ecretly prepare its own complaint and pre-empt the lawsuit that Lululemon had so clearly threatened.91裸聊视频�

Last week, Peloton sued Lululemon, asking a U.S. court to declare that it has not infringed on Lululemon patents.

91裸聊视频淟ululemon91裸聊视频檚 allegations lack any merit,91裸聊视频� Peloton claimed in documents filed in a New York court.

91裸聊视频淓ven a quick comparison of the Lululemon patented designs with the allegedly infringing Peloton products reveals numerous clear and obvious differences that allow the products to be easily distinguished.91裸聊视频�

Peloton also claims that the brands of both companies are distinctive and well-recognized 91裸聊视频渕aking confusion between products a virtual impossibility.91裸聊视频�

But in a series of exhibits filed with a California court, Lululemon alleges several Peloton styles are nearly identical to Lululemon products.

One design the retailer highlighted is its Align pants, a pair of leggings Lululemon called one of its 91裸聊视频渁ll-time best-selling products.91裸聊视频�

Lululemon alleges a Peloton style is an imitation of the Align pant, with a similar waistband and stitching.

The Canadian retailer said the similarity between Peloton products and Lululemon91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渋conic designs91裸聊视频� is 91裸聊视频渓ikely to cause confusion, cause mistake, and to deceive91裸聊视频� customers into thinking the Peloton apparel is made in affiliation with Lululemon.

The company alleges Peloton91裸聊视频檚 intention is to 91裸聊视频渂latantly copy Lululemon91裸聊视频檚 proprietary designs and pass off its goods as Lululemon91裸聊视频檚 high-quality products to misappropriate the immense goodwill that Lululemon has spent enormous time, effort, and expense to cultivate in the marketplace.91裸聊视频�

In an emailed statement, Shannon Higginson, Lululemon general counsel and senior vice-president, said: 91裸聊视频淲e are confident in our position and look forward to properly resolving this case through the courts.91裸聊视频�

Peloton said it would not comment on active litigation.

91裸聊视频擝rett Bundale, The Canadian Press

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