Matrix A7xe Owner's Manual download pdf (Page 3)

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hen Technogym, Gambettola, Italy,

introduced its Varios cross trainer last

fall, some people thought it resembled

Precor’s AMT. And that is because the

product uses technology sublicensed from Woodinville,

WA-based Precor. Sublicensing technology from one

equipment manufacturer to another is nothing new in

the ﬁtness industry. However, it is not something that

many manufactures want to admit they do - at least

when they are the one sublicensing the technology

from a competitor.

Cybex International, Medway, MA, does not subli-

cense its technology outside companies because it values

its intellectual property and wants to maintain quality

control over the consistency and preciseness of its prod-

ucts, even if that means foregoing possible revenue, the

company said in a statement. The technology behind the

equipment is so “uniquely deﬁning” that Cybex does not

want to risk putting it into someone else’s hands where

the quality assurance of the ﬁnal product is beyond the

company’s control, according to the statement.

Similarly, Octane Fitness, Brooklyn Park, MN, has

not sublicensed its technology to outside companies.

From 2005 to 2007, a handful of companies approached

Octane about purchasing a license as a way to break into

the commercial sector, according to Tim Porth, executive

vice president of product development and marketing

and one of the company founders. Octane declined be-

cause it was beginning its expansion into the commercial

market from the consumer market.

“They were direct competitors in our market,” Porth said.

“If it wasn’t a direct conﬂict, then we would have...

Continued on next page »

Double-Edged-Sublicensing-Sword

Sublicensing Technology to Competitors Oers

Risks and Rewards for Fitness Equipment Manufacturers

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Matrix A7xe Owner's Manual Page 3