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Was the Pebble Smartwatch Patented?
Yes. Pebble Technology Corp filed multiple smartwatch patents before being acquired by Fitbit in 2016. Most of the relevant IP transferred to Google as part of its 2021 Fitbit acquisition.
Quick answer
Yes — multiple
Yes. Pebble Technology Corp filed multiple smartwatch patents before being acquired by Fitbit in 2016. Most of the relevant IP transferred to Google as part of its 2021 Fitbit acquisition.
What to know
- When Pebble shut down in 2016, the patents (not the software or inventory) were the main Fitbit asset.
- Google now controls the Pebble IP via the 2021 Fitbit acquisition.
Frequently asked
Can the Pebble smartwatch still be sold?
Not as a new product. Fitbit (now Google) owns the IP and does not license the Pebble line. A volunteer community maintains the original firmware for existing devices, which is legally permitted.
Have your own invention idea?
If a product like Pebble Smartwatchcan get patent protection, your idea probably can too — assuming it’s novel. The cheapest first step is a provisional patent application, which locks in your priority date for 12 months while you validate the market. LegalZoom files provisionals from $199 + USPTO fees; you can also read the official USPTO patent basics first if you prefer.
Read next
History of Patent Law — Patent Act of 1790. Patent Office established 1836. Plant Patent Act 1930. America Invents Act 2011 — first-to-file replaces first-to-invent…