Planet Fitness files new trademark suit

Planet Fitness filed a federal suit last week accusing Platinum Fitness in Augusta, Maine, of stealing its name and colors.

The Dover-based fitness franchise chain says in its suit that Jill Harrison inquired about starting a franchise sometime in 2005, but Planet Fitness declined to proceed. Then on May 3, Planet Fitness learned Harrison had started Platinum Fitness and another club, Fitness World, which also allegedly uses Planet Fitness’ purple and yellow color scheme.

The suit, which also names Fitness World partner Thomas Matthews, said that the Maine clubs were trying to trick customers into believing that they were part of the Planet Fitness franchise. It said that Harrison did not respond to a letter informing them of the alleged copyright infringement.

Harrison declined comment until she could talk to her attorney.

Planet Fitness recently opened its 100th franchise. It has 450,000 members, sales in excess of $100 million and is one of the fastest-growing fitness chains in the United States. It has gone into federal court to enforce its trademark before, most recently in March, when a Long Island firm used much of the company’s “judgment-free zone” statement that appears on its facility walls and its literature. That suit is ongoing. – BOB SANDERS