Global pickleball brand JOOLA is making a power move—or so it seems.
Just recently, JOOLA initiated patent infringement litigation against 11 paddle manufacturers, marking a decisive step to safeguard what it describes as one of the sport’s most influential technological breakthroughs—its propulsion core.
What Does the JOOLA Lawsuit Allege?
The legal action, announced on 7 April 2026, aims to underscore JOOLA’s intent to protect years of investment in research, development, and testing. The propulsion core, a patent-protected innovation, has become central to modern paddle performance and is widely regarded as a defining feature in competitive play.
Specifically, JOOLA asserts that its engineering advancements have helped shape not only paddle design but also the broader trajectory of pickleball’s global rise. As the sport continues its rapid expansion, JOOLA argues that maintaining the integrity of innovation is critical to sustaining both performance standards and fair competition.
Who Are Being Sued?
The 11 pickleball brands named in the patent infringement case are:
- Adidas Pickleball (via All Racquet Sports LLC and All For Padel S.L.)
- Franklin Sports (specifically the C45 line)
- Paddletek (Reserve/HoneyFoam models)
- Engage Pickleball (Alpha Pro models)
- Diadem Sports (Icon Infinity and BluCore)
- Volair (Shift model)
- ProXR Pickleball (Jolt model)
- Proton Sports (Flamingo model)
- RPM Pickleball (Friction Pro)
- Friday Labs (Fever 102)
- Facolos (EliteX)
This latest move, according to JOOLA, aligns with the company’s ongoing efforts to combat counterfeit products and imitation designs, which it says undermine both product quality and the player experience. By escalating to formal litigation, JOOLA is signalling a firmer stance against what it views as unauthorised replication of its technology.
“Protecting our innovation is not about limiting what others can do—it is about ensuring the investment, creativity, and engineering required to advance this sport are rewarded,” said Richard Lee, Chief Executive Officer of JOOLA. He added that the future of the sport will be driven by brands willing to develop original ideas rather than replicate existing ones.
Highlighting the Need for Further Innovation
The company maintains that competition within the industry should extend beyond the court, encouraging manufacturers to invest in new concepts and technologies that elevate how the game is played. While the legal proceedings may introduce tension among paddle makers, JOOLA frames the move as a necessary measure to preserve innovation as the sport matures.
As pickleball continues to gain traction across regions and demographics, the outcome of this litigation could set a precedent for how intellectual property is enforced in a rapidly evolving equipment market. For JOOLA, the message is clear: innovation remains the cornerstone of growth, and it is a principle the company intends to defend.
