Lululemon Athletica has filed a lawsuit against under armour for copying sports bra designs. Athleisure retailer, based in Vancouver, has brought a patent and trademark infringement claim against the Baltimore-based sportswear retailer Under Armour. They claim Under Armour is selling exactly the same fashion as Lululemon and copying Lululemon's design "Energy Bra" that feature four interwoven straps.

"The design of defendant's infringing products so resembles the trade dress in appearance and overall commercial impression that the infringe products are likely to cause confusion, mistake and deception as to the source or origin of defendant's infringing products," Lululemon stated.

"Such confusion will injure and damage Lululemon and the goodwill and reputation symbolized by the trade dress in the marketplace."

While representative for Lululemon declined to comment on the story, Under Armour said the sportswear "takes the intellectual property rights of others very seriously."

According to Lululemon's website, the cost of product is $52. Under Armour sells sports bras -- Armour Strappy for $29.99 and Armour Eclipse Low Impact for $39.99.

Patent and trademark infringements lawsuit in fashion industry

Patent lawyer said the fashion industry filing lawsuit against companies doesn't happen frequently, but history shows that companies has brought complaints' claims over patent and trademark infringements.

Five years ago, Lululemon sued Calvin Klein Inc. for infringing on design patents for $98 "Astro Pants." Eventually, the both companies reached a settlement in a lawsuit over yoga pants patent in that same year. Three years ago, Lululemon agreed to settle a lawsuit with Hanesbrands Inc. after Hanes requested for declaratory judgement through that tank tops didn't violate a design patent.

Jeremy de Beer, a law professor at the University Ottawa, said in 2012 that Lululemon used business strategy to prevent people (or other companies) from copying designs in order to avoid legal problems.

Adidas filed a lawsuit against Under Armour in February 2014 for infringing on ten of Adidas' mobile fitness product patents used in UnderArmour39 products as well as the MapMyFitness heart rate monitor.

In May 2016, Adidas agreed a deal to offer Under Armour some of the product patents in exchange for a licensing fee compensated by Under Amour.

The battle of sports bra market

The two companies have faced increasing competition in the sports bra market. As Washington Post cited Monday, the sports market generates more than $1 billion in annual sales. Lululemon's total revenue for the 2016 fiscal year was $2.3 billion, while Under Armour generated $4.8 billion in revenue.

Victoria's Secret has long been dominating the bra market for years, but sales of sports bras and bralettes are growing tremendously. As sales of sports bra rise in the apparel market, online startups, sportswear companies and others begin to invest in it.

"When you have one player that owns the majority of the market, as Victoria's Secret did, you start to see a real loss of innovation," Third Love co-founder Heidi Zak told the newspaper.