Lululemon Athletica Canada Inc. has launched a lawsuit against exercise equipment company Peloton Interactive Inc., accusing the stationary bicycle and treadmill maker of patent infringement.

In documents filed in a U.S. court on Monday, the Vancouver-based athletic apparel retailer claims Peloton is infringing on multiple design patents and selling B次元官网网址渒nock-offB次元官网网址� bras and pants.

The lawsuit comes after Peloton ended a co-branding agreement with Lululemon earlier this year and announced its own private label, Peloton Apparel, in September.

Lululemon alleges Peloton is selling B次元官网网址渃opy-cat productsB次元官网网址� that closely resemble several of the retailerB次元官网网址檚 best-selling designs, including a pair of workout pants and a popular strappy sports bra.

B次元官网网址淯nlike innovators such as Lululemon, Peloton did not spend the time, effort and expense to create an original product line,B次元官网网址� Lululemon alleged in court documents.

B次元官网网址淚nstead, Peloton imitated several of LululemonB次元官网网址檚 innovative designs and sold knock-offs of LululemonB次元官网网址檚 products, claiming them as its own.B次元官网网址�

The retailer said it initially sent Peloton a cease-and-desist letter, laying out its concerns with the exercise equipment makerB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渂latant misappropriationB次元官网网址� of LululemonB次元官网网址檚 product designs, according to court documents.

Lululemon said Peloton requested an extension to respond to those allegations, but then used the delay to B次元官网网址渟ecretly prepare its own complaint and pre-empt the lawsuit that Lululemon had so clearly threatened.B次元官网网址�

Last week, Peloton sued Lululemon, asking a U.S. court to declare that it has not infringed on Lululemon patents.

B次元官网网址淟ululemonB次元官网网址檚 allegations lack any merit,B次元官网网址� Peloton claimed in documents filed in a New York court.

B次元官网网址淓ven a quick comparison of the Lululemon patented designs with the allegedly infringing Peloton products reveals numerous clear and obvious differences that allow the products to be easily distinguished.B次元官网网址�

Peloton also claims that the brands of both companies are distinctive and well-recognized B次元官网网址渕aking confusion between products a virtual impossibility.B次元官网网址�

But in a series of exhibits filed with a California court, Lululemon alleges several Peloton styles are nearly identical to Lululemon products.

One design the retailer highlighted is its Align pants, a pair of leggings Lululemon called one of its B次元官网网址渁ll-time best-selling products.B次元官网网址�

Lululemon alleges a Peloton style is an imitation of the Align pant, with a similar waistband and stitching.

The Canadian retailer said the similarity between Peloton products and LululemonB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渋conic designsB次元官网网址� is B次元官网网址渓ikely to cause confusion, cause mistake, and to deceiveB次元官网网址� customers into thinking the Peloton apparel is made in affiliation with Lululemon.

The company alleges PelotonB次元官网网址檚 intention is to B次元官网网址渂latantly copy LululemonB次元官网网址檚 proprietary designs and pass off its goods as LululemonB次元官网网址檚 high-quality products to misappropriate the immense goodwill that Lululemon has spent enormous time, effort, and expense to cultivate in the marketplace.B次元官网网址�

In an emailed statement, Shannon Higginson, Lululemon general counsel and senior vice-president, said: B次元官网网址淲e are confident in our position and look forward to properly resolving this case through the courts.B次元官网网址�

Peloton said it would not comment on active litigation.

B次元官网网址擝rett Bundale, The Canadian Press