Spinning (cycling)

US brand of indoor bicycles

This article is about the brand. For the genericized term "spinning", see Indoor cycling.

Spinning

Product type| indoor cycling instruction & exercise equipment
Owner| Mad Dogg Athletics
Country| U.S.
Introduced| 1993
Markets| Worldwide
Ambassador(s)| John Baudhuin
Website| spinning.com

Spinning is a brand of indoor bicycles and indoor cycling instruction classes distributed and licensed by the American health and fitness company Mad Dogg Athletics.[1] Launched in 1993, the brand has become a popular term for indoor bicycles and indoor cycling fitness classes in the United States and worldwide.[2]

There are ongoing disputes to whether Spinning has become a generic term for indoor cycling equipment and Mad Dogg's trademark should be removed.[3][4][5]

## History

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The Spinning indoor cycling program was developed by South African endurance bicycle racer Jonathan Goldberg, in 1987.[6] Early prototypes were targeted towards endurance athletes as a substitute for outdoor bicycle training.[7][8]

The Johnny G Spinning Center was first opened in 1989, in Santa Monica, California. Later it was moved to Karen Voight Fitness in 1992 .[9] In 1993, Goldberg and his business partner John Baudhuin launched the Spinning indoor cycling fitness program in Santa Monica, California.[10][11] The first Spinning brand indoor cycling programs were held in Crunch gyms in New York.

In 1995, Spinning bikes would debut at a trade show as part of a deal Goldberg and Baudhuin made with the Schwinn Bicycle Company.[9] In 1996, there were more than a thousand Official Spinning Facilities spanning over 30 countries.[12]

In 2003, Star Trac replaced Schwinn as the bike manufacturer for Spinning.[9] Goldberg retired from the company in 2004.[10][13] In 2015, Mad Dogg Athletics partnered with Precor to create a new line of commercial Spinning bikes.[14]

## Possible generic term

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Spinning has become a generic term in the United States, and a generic term can not function as a trademark. However, Mad Dogg Athletics has registered Spinning as a trademark on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.[15] A registration on the Principal Register does not create ownership rights under the laws of the United States, and a registration may be challenged and removed if the challenger proves as a matter of fact that the alleged trademark has become generic.[16]

Mad Dogg Athletics continues to defend the Spinning trademark against its generic use and has recently expanded its focus and efforts on brand protection.[17]

Based on the brand's widespread popularity, it has potentially become a generic term for indoor cycling in the Czech Republic.[18][19][20] However, in November 2018, the General Court (European Union) upheld Mad Dogg's rights and found that the brand was not a generic term.[21][22]

In February 2021, popular indoor cycling brand Peloton appealed to have the 20-year old trademark canceled, clamining the term Spinning had become a generic term.[23] Just days before the trial, Peloton dropped its lawsuit for the removal of the 'spinning' trademark.[24]

## Related products

[edit]

To protect its trademark for the term Spinning, Mad Dogg Athletics commonly refers to its products and services as the "SPINNING brand", "SPINNING indoor cycling", "SPINNING certification", and similar terms, not just "Spinning".[25][26][27]

## See also

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* CrossFit, is a comparable American brand and potentially genericized trademark.[28][29]
* Indoor Cycling, for information about the generic sport of spinning.

## References

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1. ^ "SPINNING – the Proper Noun". activemgmt.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
2. ^ "Historical timeline". maddogg.com/history. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
3. ^ Wed, Dec 29th 2010 06:43am-Mike Masnick (2010-12-29). "'Spinning' Trademarked; Gyms Being Threatened For Holding Spinning Classes Sans License". Techdirt. Retrieved 2024-08-22.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
4. ^ "USPTO TTABVUE. Proceeding Number 92076463". ttabvue.uspto.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
5. ^ Knowles, Tom (2024-08-22). "Peloton tries to put a new spin on fitness bike trademark". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
6. ^ Pernille (2018-07-01). "Inventor of Spinning Johnny G About the Modern Indoor Cycling Market". Ride High Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
7. ^ "Why Spinning Went From Fitness Fad To Workout Staple". Retrieved 30 October 2018.
8. ^ "NCEF Studio Cycling". Retrieved 30 October 2018.
9. ^ a b c Wallack, Roy M. (2005). "Interview with Johnny G, 11 March 2004". Bike for Life. New York: Marlowe & Co. p. 70\. ISBN 978-1-56924-451-7.
10. ^ a b "Historical timeline". maddogg.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
11. ^ "Spinning Book 2014". Retrieved 2018-10-30.
12. ^ "The History of the Spinning". Retrieved 30 October 2018.
13. ^ "The History of Spinning Timeline" (PDF). industryvenice.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
14. ^ "About Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc". spinning.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
15. ^ "Trademark Status & Document Retrieval: SPINNING". USPTO. July 6, 1993. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
16. ^ "15 U.S. Code § 1064 - Cancellation of registration". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
17. ^ "Mad Dogg and Zumba Focus Efforts and Money on Brand Protection". www.clubindustry.com.
18. ^ "Spinning Trademark Under Attack [In Czech Republic]". lexology.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
19. ^ "EUROPEAN UNION: OHIM Cancels Registration for SPINNING". www.inta.org.
20. ^ "Mad Dogg Athletics v. EUIPO — Aerospinning Master Franchising (SPINNING)". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
21. ^ "Mad Dogg Athletics spins to victory at EU court". www.worldipreview.com.
22. ^ "The General Court annuls EUIPO's decision revoking the rights of the proprietor of the EU trade mark SPINNING" (PDF). curia.europa.eu.
23. ^ "Peloton Dominates Home Spinning But Rival Won't Let It Say So". Bloomberg.com. 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
24. ^ Caulfield, Christine (2023-07-26). "Peloton resolves trade mark case against Mad Dogg on eve of trial". Lawyerly. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
25. ^ "Is the Spinning® Brand Important?". Retrieved 30 October 2018.
26. ^ "A Spinning & Indoor Cycling Instructor Gets a Bit Hot Under the Collar..." Retrieved 30 October 2018.
27. ^ "Mad Dogg – Brands". Retrieved 30 October 2018.
28. ^ "Generic CrossFit Coming Soon…". Retrieved 30 October 2018.
29. ^ "Interview: How the CROSSFIT Trademark Avoids Genericide". Retrieved 30 October 2018.

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