High Stakes: WHOOP’s Screenless Tracker Design Lands in Federal Court in Global IP Test

October 19, 2025

The battle for wearable technology design is escalating. Boston-based WHOOP recently initiated legal action against a Chinese competitor, Shenzhen Lexqi Electronic Technology (LEXQI), claiming the firm has created a wholesale imitation of its minimalist, screenless tracker. This key case, filed in September 2025, tests the limits of protecting aesthetic design as trade dress in the functional world of fitness tech.

WHOOP’s lawsuit has three aspects trade dress infringement, unfair competition, and false designation of origin. At the core of the complaint is the distinctive look and feel of the device, which WHOOP insists acts as a source identifier for its brand, owing to extensive marketing and public visibility, often cited in campaigns like “WHOOP in the Wild.”

The company is seeking to protect specific elements of its design, which it claims are non-functional and unique:

• The characteristic U-shaped hook and clasp mechanism
• The distinctive hinged sides.
• The rectangular sensor module.
• The unique strap and sensor configuration. the5krunner