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The JOOLA Patent Lawsuit: Who Settled, Who Is Fighting and What It Means

By The Skilled Pickle team·

The JOOLA Patent Lawsuit: Who Settled, Who Is Fighting and What It Means

JOOLA has several legal fights going, but the one reshaping the paddle market right now is its patent campaign over foam-core construction. In April 2026 JOOLA went after 11 paddle brands at once. By mid-September, eight had settled or agreed to judgment, one had not answered at all, and two were still holding out. This is where the case stands, what is actually claimed, and what it means if you own or are shopping for a foam-core paddle. The latest reporting we found is dated September 17, 2026, and the case is still open.

What JOOLA filed

On April 7, 2026, Sport Squad, Inc., the company behind JOOLA, filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Two days later it filed infringement suits in federal district courts in six jurisdictions. The 11 named companies are Franklin Sports, Proton, RPM Pickleball, Engage, Friday Labs, Diadem Sports, Facolos, ProXR, Paddletek, Adidas pickleball (through its licensee, All Racquet Sports and All For Padel) and Volair.

The two patents are U.S. Patent Nos. 12,465,826 and 12,357,891, both titled "Game Paddle." JOOLA calls the technology its "propulsion core." As described in coverage by Pickleball.com, the '826 patent covers a core that sits partly inside the paddle's perimeter, with a gap filled by foam and a hollow frame along the edge of the head. The '891 patent is narrower and covers foam blocks around the throat. JOOLA's CEO said the technology covers the 3S, 3S Dual, Pro IV and Pro V lines, such as the JOOLA Hyperion Pro IV 16mm.

Why there are two tracks

The ITC and the district courts offer different remedies. The ITC can block infringing paddles from being imported, but it cannot award money. JOOLA's CEO said exactly that, and said the court suits were filed to keep the option of seeking damages. In the district courts JOOLA asks for damages, including treble damages for willful infringement, and injunctions. Pickleball.com reported in August that most district cases were paused behind the ITC outcome.

Who has settled

WhenWhoWhat was reported
May 13, 2026Paddletek, ProXRRoyalties and a license to the patents, with affected paddles phased out through the fall
June 16, 2026ProtonSell remaining inventory marked with JOOLA's patent numbers, a "Powered by JOOLA" label, royalties, and manufacturing of the Flamingo stops
Announced mid-SeptemberFacolos, Volair, Engage, All Racquet Sports / All For PadelSettled or consented to judgment; terms not disclosed
September 17, 2026FridayRoyalties, patent numbers marked on products, sales allowed into the fall; Aura, Fever 101 and Fever 102 affected, Aura Pro not

Counts differ between outlets. The Dink counted eight resolutions and The Kitchen Pickle counted nine, but the companies each one lists add up to eight. We use the named list.

Who has not

  • Diadem Sports has not responded to the lawsuit at all, according to the reporting, and JOOLA has asked the court for a default judgment. The Dink said it had not been entered as of September 16.
  • RPM Pickleball is fighting in district court. Pickleball.com reported that its answer lists 13 affirmative defenses, argues the patent should not have been granted, and asks JOOLA to cover its legal fees. RPM argues that JOOLA's claims were narrowed while the patent was being examined, and cites X-rays of its Friction Pro. Pickleball.com also reported the patent examiner cited the Selkirk LABS Project 002 and the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated as prior art.
  • Franklin Sports has been described as largely quiet in public. Neither Franklin nor Adidas had a statement in the coverage we read.

Pickleball.com also reported that JOOLA filed a continuation patent application in February 2026. It would extend coverage to a foam ring that fully encircles the core. We found no patent number for it, so treat it as an application until a number is published.

The ITC has not issued a final determination. We could not find a hearing date or schedule in any source, and we did not find any ruling after September 17.

What it means if you buy paddles

  1. Your current paddle is not affected. The settlements are about what companies make and sell, not about what players own. Nothing in the coverage says owners need to stop using a paddle.
  2. Some models are on their way out. The settlements describe phase-outs and sell-through periods. If you want a specific named model, check whether it is still being produced before you commit.
  3. Prices and lineups may shift. Royalties and license terms are not public. We would not predict price changes, but expect brands to redesign cores around the patents.
  4. Core design is the point. If you want to understand what is being fought over, our guides to paddle cores and foam-injected cores explain how these constructions differ. Browse the JOOLA lineup or use the paddle finder to compare specs.

JOOLA's other cases

This is separate from JOOLA's earlier disputes. In June 2024 JOOLA sued USA Pickleball over the removal of its Gen 3 paddles from the approved list, seeking $200 million. USA Pickleball countersued in April 2025, alleging that JOOLA got approval with versions of the paddles that were less powerful than the ones it sold, and seeking disgorgement of profits and treble damages. We could not find a 2026 ruling in either case, so we do not know their current status. Two consumer class actions over the Gen 3 approval claims were settled without any admission of wrongdoing, with refunds of $300 with proof of purchase or a $150 gift code without it, and a final approval hearing set for January 27, 2026. For background on how paddle problems become public fights, see our paddle delamination controversy explainer.

These are allegations in ongoing litigation. A patent is presumed valid until a court or the patent office says otherwise, and no court has ruled that any remaining defendant infringed. We will update this post when the ITC or the holdouts move.

Sources

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