Lululemon is free to slap pockets on its sports bras, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday.
A Boston-based patent troll, Blackbird Technologies, had sued the yoga wear brand, claiming the retailer’s Run: Stuff Your Bra ripped off its intellectual property covering a sports bra with an “innovative storage compartment.”
But the court, not even 24 hours after both sides argued their case, ruled in Lululemon’s favor.
The two-page judgment affirmed a trial court decision.
Last year, Judge Richard Andrews dismissed Blackbird’s case.
The quick decision did not include a written opinion, usually a sign that a case is so obvious that none was necessary, according to patent experts.
The pocket in Lululemon’s sports bra is large enough to hold a cell phone.
Blackbird also sued other sports-bra makers, including Asics, Swoob and Zoot Sports, which settled with Blackbird.
Lululemon, which declined to comment on the ruling, never caved to Blackbird’s demands.



