The cracks between USA Pickleball (USAP) and JOOLA might have now turned into a huge crevice.
This developed after USAP filed a counter lawsuit against JOOLA in response to the latter’s initial lawsuit against the former. The original lawsuit was filed in 12 June 2024 in the wake of USAP de-listing a couple of JOOLA paddles from the list of approved paddles.
“As the National Governing Body of the sport of pickleball, we strive to uphold the standards and values of certifications, rules, and regulations to promote integrity of the sport and fairness for all players,” USAP said in a statement. “Filing this Counteraction was not a decision made lightly. It is, however, a necessary measure to defend USA Pickleball’s Intellectual Property and to safeguard the long-term health and integrity of the sport we all care about.”
Why Did JOOLA Sue USAP?
To recap, JOOLA first released their Gen 3 paddles in early 2024, and these were approved and included in USAP’s list of paddles approved for official tournaments. However, in May 2024, USAP delisted said paddles “after JOOLA notified USA Pickleball that it had previously submitted the wrong paddles for certification”—at least according to a statement by the pickleball governing body.
“As pickleball’s governing body in the United States, USA Pickleball takes its certifications, rules and regulations seriously to ensure integrity and fairness for all players,” USAP further said. “USA Pickleball utilizes a third-party testing facility that holds approved equipment to an extremely rigorous process and the highest testing standards and will evaluate those submissions for compliance with USA Pickleball’s equipment standards.”
JOOLA naturally didn’t take too kindly to USAP’s actions and took matters to court, filing a lawsuit against the latter on 12 June 2024 in the United States District Court for Maryland.
“We firmly believe our Gen3 paddles are compliant with all applicable published rules (as evidenced by their prior approval) and should not have been removed from the Approved Paddle List,” JOOLA said in a statement. “We are disappointed that we were forced to resort to legal measures, but after pursuing multiple avenues in attempts to reach a mutually acceptable resolution, we believe the filing of this suit was both warranted and necessary.”
Now, the two sides might be headed to court over this dispute.
What This Means for USAP and JOOLA
If this thing goes to trial, it’s very likely USAP will come out worse for the wear. In some respects, it is entirely possible they could win the battle but lose the war. Meaning, they could win in court but exhaust what might be a thin financial capital in doing so considering the high costs of a high-profile trial—at least until they get compensation. A loss outright, meanwhile, could prove catastrophic.
JOOLA could lose, too, and take a financial hit in the process—though they might be in a better position financially to handle it. On the other hand, they could score a huge win and net millions in compensation damages. This is the best-case scenario for JOOLA and the worst one for USAP.
Given these potential scenarios, USAP will take a big financial hit either way, as a win means they’ll be proven right but won’t necessarily earn for them compensation to replenish what would be a depleted coffer. This is why it makes the most sense for the sport’s governing body to just look for a settlement. It’s the logical way to avoid a long, potentially costly trial that only big, financially capable companies can survive.
At any rate, the battle lines have been drawn—and the point of no return might just be getting near for both sides.
