Peloton Interactive controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Tread+ safety controversy and recall
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers about Tread+ hazards after a child died and numerous injuries were reported. Peloton initially resisted an immediate recall request, then changed position and voluntarily recalled Tread and Tread+ on May 5, 2021. Reports of injuries involving the Tread+ treadmill, including the death of a child, led to regulatory scrutiny and a recall announced by Peloton and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Peloton initially disputed aspects of the regulator’s warning before cooperating on the recall.
2021
Product-placement controversy in television drama
A character’s death after using a Peloton Bike in the television series And Just Like That... generated discussion about the brand’s portrayal and product safety. Peloton responded with advertising and public-relations activity involving the show’s actors and a physician.
2021
Peloton responds to backlash over disabled Just Run feature
Company response
Peloton faced customer backlash after disabling the free Just Run setting on its Tread+ treadmill. In response, the company said it would waive three months of membership fees for Tread+ owners and was working on an update to bring the feature back.
Company response
Remediation — Peloton
In response to the customer outcry, Peloton said it would waive three months of membership fees for all Tread+ owners, as it works on another update that brings back the “Just Run” feature.
Source excerpt
Peloton is facing backlash after disabling a free run setting on its high-end treadmill, which would have forced users to pay an extra monthly membership fee, according to reports across social media.
In response to the customer outcry, Peloton said it would waive three months of membership fees for all Tread+ owners, as it works on another update that brings back the “Just Run” feature.
2021
Lululemon files suit against Peloton over apparel designs
Lawsuit filed
In November 2021, Lululemon filed suit in federal court in Central California alleging that products in Peloton's new apparel line infringe its design patents and trade dress. Lululemon sought an injunction and damages. The allegations are claims made in active litigation and do not constitute a court determination of infringement or liability.
Company response
Clarification — Lululemon
Shannon Higginson, Lululemon's senior vice president, general counsel, and chief compliance officer, told Insider in a statement that the Canada-based athleisure brand is "confident in our position and look forward to properly resolving this case through the courts."
Source excerpt
Lululemon is seeking an injunction against Peloton to stop it from selling the products Lululemon claims are "copy-cats" of its patents, as well as damages from Peloton to make up for any lost profits Lululemon has experienced as a result of Peloton's products hitting the market.
Lululemon filed suit in Central California federal court on Monday, alleging that several of the products from Peloton's new apparel line infringe on Lululemon's design patents.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Athletic apparel retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU), has filed a lawsuit against the fitness company Peloton Interactive Inc. (PTON), on patent infringement allegations related to the designs of a new line of leggings and sports bras.
2021
Peloton sues Lululemon over apparel design patent claims
Lawsuit filed
Peloton filed a lawsuit against Lululemon in Manhattan federal court, seeking a declaration that it had not infringed Lululemon's patents and trade dress and that Lululemon's patent claims were invalid. Lululemon had said it would sue unless Peloton stopped selling its apparel, and stated that it would defend its proprietary rights.
Source excerpt
"At Lululemon we are known for our product innovation and iconic design," Lululemon said in a statement on Friday. "We will defend our proprietary rights, to protect the integrity of our brand, and to safeguard our intellectual property."
The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday night
Peloton has sued Lululemon after the athletic apparel maker threatened its own lawsuit over the exercise bike company’s new apparel line.
2021
Pension fund files securities lawsuit against Peloton
Lawsuit filed
The City of Hialeah Employees’ Retirement System filed a securities class action lawsuit against Peloton, alleging that the company and executives made false and misleading statements about whether pandemic-era growth would continue after COVID-19 restrictions eased. These are allegations in the lawsuit, not findings of wrongdoing.
Company response
Denial — Peloton
Peloton declined to respond to the allegations, saying, “Unfortunately, we cannot comment on active litigation.”
Source excerpt
The Florida-based City of Hialeah Employees’ Retirement System has filed a securities class action lawsuit against exercise equipment and media company Peloton for allegedly making false and misleading statements by promising the growth it achieved during the COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates would continue.
Peloton declined to respond to the allegations, saying, “Unfortunately, we cannot comment on active litigation.”
2021
Peloton introduces Tread Lock software
Corrective action
Peloton introduced Tread Lock software for its treadmills. The safety feature automatically locks Tread+ models after 45 seconds of inactivity outside a class or when the machine goes to sleep.
Source excerpt
A new lock function has been introduced for Peloton treadmills after the fitness company recalled more than 100,000 of the machines this month.
Peloton unveiled its Tread Lock software and said the function is “a safety feature that automatically locks” the Tread+ models after 45 seconds of inactivity when not being used in a class, or immediately after the machine goes to sleep.
2021
Peloton announces Tread+ and treadmill recall
Recall announced
Peloton announced a voluntary recall of its Tread+ and treadmill products following the accidental death of a child. The article reports that the recalls covered around 125,000 units. Peloton CEO John Foley apologized for the company’s initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s request to recall the Tread+.
Company response
Apology — Peloton
For that, I apologize.
Source excerpt
因此Peloton決定自主召回所有跑步機產品，消息一出，公司市值瞬間蒸發41億美元。
但是在經過2週以後，公司發表聲明指出，將自主召回所有Tread 以及Tread跑步機產品。
Peloton執行長佛利（John Foley）也公開表示，當初面對委員會的警告作出不當回應，深表歉意。
2021
Dish and Sling seek to block imports of workout products
Lawsuit filed
Dish and Sling filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking to block imports of Peloton, NordicTrack and Mirror products into the United States.
Source excerpt
Separately, Dish and Sling filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. to block imports of Peloton, NordicTrack and Mirror products into the U.S.
The lawsuits, filed Tuesday in federal court in Texas and Delaware on behalf of Sling TV, accuses Peloton, NordicTrack-owner Icon Health & Fitness Inc. and Mirror-owner Lululemon using Dish’s patented technology
NordicTrack maker accuses Peloton of infringing on its patents.
2021
DISH sues Peloton over streaming patents
Lawsuit filed
DISH filed a complaint against Peloton in the Eastern District of Texas, alleging that Peloton infringed DISH's streaming-related patents through its fitness streaming services.
Source excerpt
DISH Technologies LLC and Sling TV LLC (collectively, DISH) filed complaints against Peloton Interactive Inc. on Tuesday in the Eastern District of Texas and ICON Health & Fitness Inc., as well as lululemon athletica Inc. (lululemon) and Curiouser Products Inc. (doing business as MIRROR) on Wednesday in the District of Delaware, alleging that the defendants infringed DISH’s streaming-related patents in their respective fitness streaming services.
2021
Peloton warns adults to keep children away from its treadmills after a fatal accident
Hazard disclosure
After an accident killed one child and seriously injured another, Peloton issued a warning for adults to keep children away from its treadmills.
Source excerpt
now fitness giant Peloton has issued a warning after a tragic accident killed one child and seriously injured another.
Peloton is warning adults to keep kids away from the Treadmills
2021
Peloton issues Tread+ safety warning after child’s death
Hazard disclosure
Peloton disclosed a fatal child accident involving its Tread+ treadmill and a separate recent incident in which another child was significantly injured. The company advised Tread+ users to keep children and pets away from the equipment and said it was assessing ways to reinforce its warnings.
Stated objective. hopefully prevent future accidents
Company response
Remediation — Peloton
We are currently assessing ways to reinforce our warnings about these critical safety precautions to hopefully prevent future accidents
Source excerpt
Peloton Interactive on Thursday issued a safety warning after learning of the death of a child due to an accident involving its Tread+ treadmill. A second recent Tread+ incident resulted in significant injury to another child.
We are currently assessing ways to reinforce our warnings about these critical safety precautions to hopefully prevent future accidents
2021
Peloton sues iFit and Echelon over patents
Lawsuit filed
Peloton filed lawsuits against iFit and Echelon, alleging that their products violated Peloton patents related to on-demand classes. Peloton sought an order blocking device sales and compensation; the allegations are claims, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
Peloton is seeking a court order to block sales of the devices until the patents expire, in addition to compensation.
Peloton has filed fresh lawsuits against two of its rivals, iFit and Echelon. It alleges that the companies are violating up to four patents it holds related to on-demand classes, one of which it only obtained last week, as notes.
2021
Class-action lawsuit over Peloton Tread+ safety warnings
Lawsuit filed
Shannon Albright filed a class-action lawsuit against Peloton, claiming that its Tread+ warnings did not convey potential safety hazards and seeking more than $5 million in damages. These are allegations in the lawsuit.
Source excerpt
She's suing for over $5 million in damages.
A woman is suing Peloton, claiming its treadmill is dangerous for children and pets, after a consumer watchdog agency urged Americans to stop using its $4,295 Tread+ following 39 reports of injuries and one child death.
Shannon Albright of Rocklin, Calif., claims in a class-action lawsuit filed with the Northern District of California that Peloton’s warnings did not convey the potential safety hazards of its treadmill machine
2020
Peloton sued over lack of closed captions
Lawsuit filed
A New York man filed a class-action lawsuit against Peloton, alleging that its workout videos lack closed captioning and thereby violate the civil rights of deaf and hearing-impaired members. The suit seeks damages and an order requiring captions. The allegations are presented as claims in the filing and are not presented as a court determination.
Source excerpt
A man in New York is suing the stationary exercise bike company on behalf of his fellow deaf and hearing-impaired people ... claiming the app is violating their civil rights.
The lawsuit's seeking damages from Peloton and an order requiring the company to close-caption its videos.
2020
Peloton settles music publishers’ lawsuit
Settlement
Peloton and the National Music Publishers’ Association announced that they had fully settled a lawsuit over Peloton’s alleged use of 2,468 unlicensed songs. The lawsuit had sought more than $300 million in damages; the settlement terms are not stated in the source.
Source excerpt
Peloton settled a lawsuit filed by members of the U.S.’s music-publishing trade organization that had sought more than $300 million in damages over the interactive-fitness company’s alleged use of 2,468 unlicensed songs.
The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), which represents American music publishers and songwriters, and Peloton together announced that they have “fully settled” the […]
The organization launched a complaint last year in which it sought $150 million in damages from Peloton for failing to properly license some of the songs it played during its online spin and exercise classes.
2019
Music licensing lawsuit
The National Music Publishers Association and music publishers alleged that Peloton used copyrighted songs in classes without the necessary synchronization licenses. The case was settled in 2020 after the company altered music used in some sessions and removed certain programs.
2019
The Gift That Gives Back advertising criticism
The holiday commercial was criticized for its portrayal of a husband giving his wife exercise equipment and for the implication that she needed to change physically. Peloton said the intended message concerned wellness and positive personal transformation.
2019
Peloton sues Echelon over alleged intellectual property copying
Lawsuit filed
Peloton Interactive filed a lawsuit against Echelon Fitness in the U.S. District Court in Delaware. The lawsuit alleges that Echelon copied Peloton's registered trademark, trade dress, and technology. In response, Echelon stated that it intended to defend itself against the claims. The dispute centers on allegations of intellectual property copying.
Peloton sued Echelon Fitness in the U.S. District Court in Delaware. The lawsuit alleges that Echelon copied Peloton’s registered trademark, trade dress and technology; Echelon said it intended to defend itself against the claims.
Company response
Denial — Echelon Fitness
we can say that we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these frivolous claims, and we are confident that we will ultimately prevail
Source excerpt
“While we just learned of the lawsuit and therefore cannot comment substantively, we can say that we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these frivolous claims, and we are confident that we will ultimately prevail,” Lentine said.
The legal action, filed with the U.S. District Court in Delaware, claims Echelon manufactured its indoor bikes by “outright” copying Peloton’s registered trademark and “trade dress,” such as the red, black and white branding.
Peloton said in the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Delaware.
2019
Peloton faces backlash over holiday advert
Public backlash
Peloton faced online criticism over its holiday advert, which critics called sexist and dystopian. The company said it was disappointed that some people had misinterpreted the advert and explained that it was intended to celebrate a fitness and wellness journey.
Stated objective. To celebrate that fitness and wellness journey.
Company response
Clarification — Peloton
In a statement to CNBC, Peloton said it was disappointed by how some people had misinterpreted the advert, but was “encouraged by – and grateful for – the outpouring of support we’ve received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate”.
Clarification — Peloton
“While we’re disappointed in how some have misinterpreted this commercial, we are encouraged by — and grateful for — the outpouring of support we’ve received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate,” the company told
Source excerpt
In a statement to CNBC, Peloton said it was disappointed by how some people had misinterpreted the advert, but was “encouraged by – and grateful for – the outpouring of support we’ve received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate”.
Almost $1.5bn (£1.1bn) has been wiped off the value of the exercise bike firm Peloton after a backlash against a Christmas advert widely derided as “sexist and dystopian”.
Our holiday spot was created to celebrate that fitness and wellness journey.