In the highly competitive fitness equipment market, brand protection has become a crucial concern for companies investing in innovation. Panatta, a renowned Italian fitness equipment manufacturer celebrated for its biomechanics and quality, has recently achieved a significant victory in its fight against counterfeiting.
Panatta took legal action against Shandong Coolbuild Fitness Equipment Co.,Ltd, a Chinese company based in Dezhou City. The case centered around CoolBuild’s alleged imitation of Panatta’s Freeweight Special product line. Panatta filed a request for a precautionary injunction, and the Regional Court of Cologne, Germany, ruled in its favor.
The court’s decision, which is provisional and subject to appeal, orders CoolBuild to halt the marketing of imitation products. This includes refraining from reproducing or distributing photographs related to Panatta’s Freeweight Special line. If CoolBuild fails to comply, it faces a substantial fine of up to €250,000 or a custodial sentence for each violation.
The ruling comes after German judges determined that CoolBuild had exhibited gym machines resembling Panatta’s Freeweight Special line during the FIBO fair in Cologne from April 10-13, 2025. Equipment like the Super Vertical Leg Press was deemed likely to mislead consumers about the product’s origin.
This isn’t the first time Panatta has confronted CoolBuild over intellectual property issues. Previously, Panatta successfully asserted its copyright regarding the Freeweight HP line, which CoolBuild was accused of counterfeiting. In response, CoolBuild issued a formal statement, including a penalty clause, promising to stop such production.
Rudy Panatta, the founder and owner of Panatta, expressed satisfaction with the ruling. He emphasized that defending the company’s designs is not only about protecting its brand but also a responsibility to its history, employees, and customers. Panatta views the ruling as an important signal that rewards innovation and punishes imitation. However, Rudy Panatta also called for more substantial efforts from control bodies and trade fair organizations to safeguard companies investing in value creation, employment, and development.
In addition to legal battles, Panatta has been actively protecting its brand in the digital realm. Through the Web Brand Protection service, in the past two months alone, 9,663 listings offering counterfeit Panatta Free Weight line machines, mainly from Chinese companies, have been removed from marketplaces and social media platforms.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of intellectual property rights in the global market and the lengths to which companies like Panatta will go to safeguard their innovative designs and brand integrity.