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In a 2021 complaint filed with the ITC, Dish and its Sling TV
unit accused Peloton and iFit of infringing four patents for
video-streaming technology through imports of products that
stream at-home fitness content. These included Peloton bicycles
and treadmills and iFit NordicTrack bicycles and ellipticals.
ITC Chief Administrative Law Judge Clark Cheney sided with Dish
in September.
President Joe Biden's administration has 60 days to review the
import ban before it takes effect, though presidents rarely
reverse such actions. Parties can also appeal ITC decisions to
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which reviews
patent disputes, after the 60-day review period ends.
A Peloton spokesperson said the company was disappointed with
the decision and believes it does not infringe the patents, but
the ruling will "in no way disrupt service" for its users.
Representatives for iFit and Dish did not immediately respond to
requests for comment.
Dish and Sling filed lawsuits in Delaware and Texas that were
put on hold for the ITC case. Dish had also sued Lululemon
Athletica Inc over its Mirror video-streaming device but the
companies settled their patent fight in February.
Cheney found that the Peloton, Lululemon and iFit
streaming-capable products infringed patents related to Dish's
Hopper set-top boxes. Dish said its patents covered adaptive
bitrate streaming technology that lets users stream content from
around the world in real time "at the highest possible quality".
The technology was developed by Move Networks Inc and was
acquired by Dish in 2012, according to court papers.
(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Will
Dunham, David Bario and Sonali Paul)
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