F45 loses legal battle with Body Fit Training over workout patents

A four year legal battle between F45 and Body Fit Training in the Federal Court of Australia has been concluded today with a ruling in favour of BFT.

The legal action, in which F45 alleged Body Fit Training (BFT) had infringed one of its patents, was dismissed by Justice Nicholas, who ordered that the patents be revoked and that F45 should pay BFT's legal costs.

F45 - founded in Australia by Adam Gilchrist and Rob Deutsch, and now backed by Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg and listed on the USA’s Dow Jones index - involved alleged innovation patent infringements relating to the management of each group’s franchises through a central computer system.

A spokesperson for BFT said the orders did not set a precedent for a parallel legal case before the US Courts but that it may influence the result.

Following the ruling, BFT founder and joint Chief Executive Cameron Falloon and joint Chief Executive, Richard Burnet released a combined statement advising "we are thrilled that the Federal Court in Australia has ruled in favour of BFT against F45.

"The Federal Court has determined that both of F45’s innovation patents are invalid and that, even if those patents were valid, BFT did not infringe them in any event.

"Thank you to our franchisees, members, industry partners and Xponential Fitness for their unwavering support, belief and trust in our brand.

"We look forward to continuing to offer a different and better product, as Australia’s fastest growing fitness franchise.”

One of the key elements of the judgement was that F45’s system is “not patentable” because it “is implemented using generic computing technology”.

In October last year, BFT entered into a $60 million deal to sell its intellectual property to US-based Xponential Fitness Inc.

Click here to view a redacted copy of the judgement.

Images: BFT studio (top) and BFT founder and joint Chief Executive Cameron Falloon (below).