F45 stripped of patents, loses copycat court case against rival

Fitness behemoth F45 has lost a four-year court battle with a fast-growing rival who was accused of copying its patented workout technology — and, as an insult to injury, lost two of its patents in the process.

Melbourne-based Body Fit Training (BFT), self-described as Australia’s fastest-growing fitness franchise, went head-to-head in the Federal Court with F45, which now boasts over 1750 franchises in 45 countries and is backed by Hollywood heartthrob Mark Wahlberg, among others.

The arguments in court centred around the electronic coaching system both gyms use. Lawyers for F45 say BFT copied the idea by configuring their fitness studios from a central server — a similar set-up to the patented system F45 uses whereby a computer network fires out exercise routines to all studios that gym-goers watch as they work out.