WHOOP sues Polar over 'copycat' Loop band — but no UK ban yet
A US trade-dress lawsuit claims the new Polar Loop is a near-identical copy of the WHOOP Strap, though confirmed sales bans remain limited to a separate Chinese rival.
By James Oduya · Staff Writer & Home Gym Columnist · Updated October 07, 2026What you need to know
- WHOOP filed a federal lawsuit against Polar in the US on 14 October 2025, claiming the Polar Loop copies its iconic faceless strap design
- A confirmed US sales injunction was granted on 4 February 2026 — but against Chinese manufacturer Lexqi, not Polar; the Polar case remains unresolved
- UK sales of the Polar Loop at £149.50 are unaffected by any confirmed US court order
WHOOP takes Polar to court over faceless band design
American fitness wearable company WHOOP filed a federal lawsuit against Finnish giant Polar on 14 October 2025, alleging that Polar's newly launched Loop fitness band is a "wholesale copy" of the WHOOP Strap's signature design. The case is playing out in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York — but despite some early reports conflating the two cases, no confirmed injunction halting Polar Loop sales has yet been issued. A separate injunction was granted against a Chinese manufacturer. UK sales of the Polar Loop continue unaffected.
What WHOOP is claiming
WHOOP's complaint centres on what the company calls its "WHOOP Trade Dress" — the distinctive combination of a continuous woven fabric band that wraps entirely over the sensor module, thin metallic side accents, a U-shaped clasp concealing the hidden sensor body, and, crucially, the complete absence of a display or buttons. WHOOP argues this look is not a functional design choice but a brand identifier, and that it has used it consistently since 2015, giving it what lawyers call "secondary meaning" — consumers associate that appearance with WHOOP specifically.
The suit brings claims of trade-dress infringement, false designation of origin, unfair competition and trademark dilution under the Lanham Act — the primary US federal trademark law — as well as New York state law. WHOOP is seeking unspecified damages, disgorgement of Polar's profits, a permanent US sales ban on the Polar Loop, and a jury trial.
The complaint pulls no punches. One passage states:
"Only upon close examination can a consumer be certain the Polar Loop is not literally the Whoop Wearable."
If WHOOP's legal argument — that a minimalist, display-free band design can function as a brand identifier rather than a product feature — is upheld by the courts, it could significantly broaden design protection across the entire wearable industry.
Polar's response
Polar launched the Loop on pre-order from 3 September 2025, with general retail availability from 10 September. The company described it as its "first screen-free wearable band" and, notably, positioned it as a one-time purchase with no monthly fees — a pointed contrast to WHOOP's subscription model, even if Polar never mentioned its rival by name.
Polar moved swiftly to deny the allegations. Around 20 October 2025, the company issued an official statement:
"Polar firmly denies any allegations of intellectual property infringement. Our products are the result of decades of innovation and rigorous design processes, and we remain confident in the originality and integrity of the appearance and design of our products."
Polar also told MobiHealthNews that the Loop reflects the company's own longstanding design approach and does not infringe WHOOP's intellectual property.
The confirmed injunction — and why it isn't against Polar
Separate to the Polar case, WHOOP had also filed suit in September 2025 against Shenzhen Lexqi Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer accused of producing a near-identical device. That case moved faster. On 4 February 2026, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts — in an order written by Judge F. Dennis Saylor — granted WHOOP a preliminary injunction ordering Lexqi to immediately stop making, marketing and selling its fitness band in the United States while litigation continues.
The court found that WHOOP had met all three requirements for trade-dress protection — non-functional design, distinctiveness, and use in commerce — and stated that the Lexqi device "is almost identical to [the WHOOP] device that embodies the WHOOP Trade Dress." The injunction was conditioned on WHOOP posting a $200,000 bond.
WHOOP's Chief Administrative and Legal Officer, Jason Lynch, said in a statement:
"WHOOP members trust us with their data and rely on our technology to make meaningful decisions about their health and performance. Protecting our intellectual property is essential to preserving that trust. This ruling reinforces our commitment to innovation on behalf of our members and affirms the importance of respecting original technology."
Crucially, the Polar case is proceeding in a different court entirely. A preliminary hearing took place in January 2026, and as of early February 2026 — the most recent point at which sources could be confirmed — WHOOP's injunction request against Polar remained under judicial review with no decision announced. Whether that has since changed could not be independently verified at the time of publication.
What is the Polar Loop, and what does it cost in the UK?
The Polar Loop is a slim, screen-free fitness tracker measuring 42 x 27 x 9mm and weighing 29g with its band. It tracks heart rate, activity, sleep, recovery and training metrics via Polar's Precision Prime sensor technology, syncing automatically to the free Polar Flow app. Battery life is rated at up to eight days; it is water resistant to 3ATM and connects via Bluetooth. There is no GPS and no display.
- UK retail price: £149.50 (replacement wristbands: £15.90)
- US retail price: $199.90
- EU retail price: €179.90
- Available colours: Greige Sand, Night Black, Brown Copper
- No monthly subscription required
The device is closely related to Polar's B2B-focused Polar 360 tracker, adapted here for the consumer market.
What happens next
The Eastern District of New York case continues. Legal observers have noted that if WHOOP ultimately secures a permanent injunction against Polar in the US, the Finnish brand would almost certainly need to redesign the Loop before it could resume selling there — a process that, according to sources familiar with the wearable industry, could take around two years. The case is one of several active disputes reshaping the wearables sector: separate legal battles between Garmin and Strava over branding, and Garmin and Suunto over smartwatch interface copyright, indicate that intellectual property litigation is fast becoming a defining feature of the fitness tech market.
For now, UK buyers can purchase the Polar Loop without any legal complications on this side of the Atlantic. The US proceedings have no confirmed bearing on UK availability.
Why it matters
For UK shoppers, the Polar Loop remains on sale and, based on all confirmed sources, no court order threatens that. The case is, however, worth watching: if WHOOP ultimately wins an injunction against Polar in the US, the Finnish brand would likely need a costly redesign before re-entering that market — pressure that could affect product roadmaps, pricing and future UK availability. More broadly, the lawsuit signals that the booming screen-free wearable category is about to get legally contentious, with design rights becoming a serious battleground alongside patents and software.