Battle of the Fitness Trackers: Jawbone Sues Fitbit 

Shutterstock

It’s not all love letters from David Sedaris in Fitness Tracker Land, there’s some drama, too: Last week, Jawbone filed a lawsuit against competitor Fitbit, accusing the company of stealing confidential information after stealing a good chunk of the their employees, The New York Times reports.

Here’s the gist: According to Jawbone’s complaint, Fitbit recruiters contacted about a third of the rival company’s employees this year, and some of Jawbone’s employees decided to switch teams. But before they left for Fitbit, they downloaded confidential information like Jawbone’s business plans to thumb drives, then tried to cover their tracks.

As the Times states, “In the court filing, Jawbone quoted an unnamed executive search consultant who reportedly said, ‘Fitbit’s objective is to decimate Jawbone.’” Like I said, drama.

Fitbit ‘fessed up to poaching Jawbone’s employees, but the company also released a statement saying, “As the pioneer and leader in the connected health and fitness market, Fitbit has no need to take information from Jawbone or any other company … We are unaware of any confidential or proprietary information of Jawbone in our possession and we intend to vigorously defend against these allegations.”

But if you’re anything like my wearable tracker-obsessed friends, you’re thinking, “Who cares? As long as I get my 10,000 steps in, I’m happy.” Yeah, thought so.

Like what you’re reading? Stay in touch with Be Well Philly—here’s how:

• Like Be Well Philly on Facebook
• Follow Be Well Philly on Twitter
• Follow Be Well Philly on Pinterest
• Get the Be Well Philly Newsletter