US fitness start-up Peloton has launched a pre-emptive strike to scrub trademarks for “spinning” in Australia from another US-based fitness company which has held the rights for 26 years.

On Tuesday, Peloton announced it would be coming to Australia in the second half of 2021. The Australian Financial Review can reveal that at the same time, Peloton quietly lodged an application in the Federal Court of Australia against Mad Dogg Athletics – a Venice, California, fitness company that manufacturers and sells its own range of fitness equipment, including indoor bikes under the Spinning brand.