JOOLA and Proton have reached a settlement in their paddle core patent dispute, bringing an end to the claims filed in April. The agreement centers around JOOLA's Propulsion Core paddle technology, which is considered the foundation of the modern pickleball paddle.
The settlement allows Proton to continue selling the affected products through the summer, but with some notable changes. All of these products will now feature a "Powered by JOOLA" sticker on the packaging and will be marked with JOOLA's propulsion core patent numbers. Additionally, Proton will pay royalties to JOOLA and will discontinue the manufacturing of all impacted products immediately. This resolution is the latest in a series of settlements for JOOLA, which has now reached agreements with three brands that were listed in the initial lawsuit: Proton, Paddletek, and ProXr.
Key Terms of the Settlements
The terms of the settlements with each of the three brands are as follows:
- Proton: Will continue to sell affected products through the summer, with "Powered by JOOLA" stickers and patent numbers on the packaging, and will pay royalties to JOOLA.
- Paddletek: Can sell through a designated inventory allotment before phasing out the affected products through the fall.
- ProXr: Similar to Paddletek, ProXr can sell through a designated inventory allotment before phasing out the affected products through the fall.
The settlement is seen as a positive outcome for both parties, allowing Proton to continue operating while also acknowledging JOOLA's role as a leader in technical innovation. JOOLA will continue to pursue fair outcomes with the remaining defendants, protecting the technology that defines the modern game of pickleball.
