2026年4月7日、ピクルボール用パドルメーカーのJOOLAが、Franklin Sports・Adidas・RPM Pickleball等と複数ブランドを相手取り、米国際貿易委員会（ITC）と連邦裁判所へ同時に特許侵害訴訟を提起した。争点はJOOLA独自の「プロパルション・コア」技術——EVAフォームとポリプロピレンハニカムを組み合わせたU字構造で、パドルに制御されたフレックスとスプリング効果を与える設計だ。ITC提訴により、侵害品の米国市場への輸入差止めが視野に入る。
On April 7, JOOLA petitioned the ITC to open an investigation, alleging that the products of the 11 companies infringe its patents. The ITC does not have the authority to order monetary damages, but it can issue an “exclusion order” that bars the import of infringing goods into the U.S. Given an industry structure in which paddles manufactured overseas make up the majority, this strategy is on point.
JOOLAは4月7日付でITCに対し、複数社の製品が同社の特許を侵害しているとして調査開始を申し立てた。ITCは金銭的賠償を命じる権限を持たないが、侵害品の米国への輸入を排除する「排除命令」を発令できる。海外で製造されたパドルが大半を占める業界構造を考えれば、この戦略は的確だ。
What is “Propulsion Core”?
The technology at issue is a structure that places U-shaped, horseshoe-form EVA foam inside the paddle, combined with a polypropylene honeycomb core. This design amplifies drive and speed-up power without increasing swing force. JOOLA brought this technology to market in 2024 with the Gen 3, MOD TA-15, and 3S paddles.
Worth noting is that designs enclosing the entire perimeter of the paddle with foam (such as Selkirk’s Era Power) are not included in the suit. It is specifically the U-shaped, partial foam placement that is the core of the patent.
List of the 11 defendant companies
被告企業と和解の進行状況
提訴対象となった複数社のうち、PaddletekとProXR Pickleballの2社は、提訴後まもなく和解に至った。両社はJOOLAの特許をライセンス契約し、ロイヤルティを支払うことで合意。対象パドルは2026年秋までに段階的に販売を終了する。
残る企業については訴訟が継続中だ。和解に応じた企業の動きは、JOOLA側の特許の有効性を間接的に裏付けるものとも解釈できる。
Reaction from industry insiders
JOOLA CEO Richard Lee commented, “Protecting innovation is not about restricting others’ possibilities. It is about sustaining the investment, creativity, and engineering needed to move this sport forward.”
On the other side, paddle makers are expected to counter that “the U-shaped foam structure existed before JOOLA.” In the ITC investigation, the existence of prior art is highly likely to become a point of contention.
Industry analysts note, “This is the first large-scale patent lawsuit in the pickleball industry, and it will determine the direction of future paddle development.” It is a moment when the balance between freedom of paddle design and IP protection is being tested.
Impact on Japanese players
For players in Japan who use JOOLA products, this lawsuit has no direct impact. However, if an ITC exclusion order is issued, the defendant brands’ paddles could disappear from the U.S. market. Players who had obtained these brands through personal imports may see their procurement routes affected.
In the long term, patent licensing fees could also be passed on to paddle prices.The Apollo × DoorDash 225-million-dollar investmentas seen there, amid continued capital inflows into the pickleball industry, we have entered an era in which IP strategy shapes a maker’s competitiveness.
Ripple effects on the paddle industry—an era where IP decides who wins
This lawsuit symbolizes the pickleball industry’s shift from a “startup infancy” to a “maturity that differentiates through IP.” In tennis and golf, patent lawsuits over clubs and racquets have long existed, but this is the first IP dispute of this scale in pickleball.
Paddle makers will likely accelerate patent filings for their own technologies going forward. At the same time, the importance of “patent clearance”—assessing the risk of infringing others’ patents—rises.The MLP 2026 seasonThis lawsuit’s outcome should also affect the choice of paddles used by pro players.
Practical information summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Filing date | April 7, 2026 |
| Where filed | U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) plus federal court |
| Patent at issue | Propulsion Core (U-shaped EVA foam plus polypropylene honeycomb structure) |
| Settling companies | Paddletek、ProXR Pickleball（ロイヤルティ＋ライセンス契約、秋までに対象製品を段階的終了） |
| Litigation ongoing | Franklin Sports、Adidas、RPM Pickleball、Engage Pickleball、Proton Sports、Friday Labs、Diadem Sports、Facolos、Volair他 |
| In the case of an ITC exclusion order | A ban on importing the infringing paddles into the U.S. |
| Impact on Japan | Possible limited impact on personal-import routes |
Summary—the IP-ification of paddle technology accelerates
JOOLAの提訴は、ピクルボール用品業界に「特許を取らなければ守れない」という明確なメッセージを突きつけた。PaddletekとProXR Pickleballが早期和解に応じた事実は、プロパルション・コア特許の強度を示唆する。残る訴訟の対応と、ITCの判断が今後のパドル市場の地図を書き換えるだろう。新しいパドルの購入を検討しているプレーヤーは、訴訟の帰趨を注視しておきたい。
