The camera market is shifting from a pure technology race into a fierce legal battlefield. Here is the latest scorecard and frontline update on the global patent war entangling GoPro—the longtime absolute ruler of action cams—and rising powerhouses Insta360 and DJI, the dominant force in drones and gimbals.
1. GoPro vs. Insta360: Round 1 Ends with a De Facto Win for Insta360
In February of this year, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) effectively ruled in favor of Insta360 in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by GoPro.
GoPro had claimed that Insta360 infringed on its core "HyperSmooth" stabilization technology and specific design patents. However, the ITC ruled that the core utility patents in question (5 patents covering stabilization, horizon leveling, etc.) were either invalid or not infringed. While a limited exclusion order was issued for certain design elements of the older Ace model, Insta360 declared a "complete victory" with no impact on its current lineup, bringing a close to this particular front.
2. DJI vs. Insta360: A US-China War Ignites on the Day of the 'Luna Ultra' Launch
The real showdown is just getting started. On June 10, immediately following Insta360's launch of its new detachable-display pocket gimbal camera, the 'Luna Ultra,' DJI filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
- DJI's Claims: DJI argues that Insta360’s 'Luna' series is a blatant copy of its 'Osmo Pocket' line, citing 2 design patents (the vertical body, scroll wheel, rotatable display, etc.) and 4 utility patents covering subject tracking and gimbal control modes. DJI is seeking a permanent injunction against the sale of the Luna series in the U.S., along with damages.
- The Backstory in Chinese Courts: This follows a prior lawsuit filed by DJI in March at the Shenzhen People's Court in China. DJI claims that 6 drone and image-processing patents filed by former DJI engineers within a year of moving to Insta360 legally belong to DJI as job-related inventions.
3. Insta360 Counterattacks: A Countersuit Within 24 Hours Signals a Mudfight
Insta360 proved it won't back down easily. Just one day after DJI's U.S. lawsuit was filed, on June 12, Insta360 fired back with a countersuit alleging infringement on 5 of its own utility patents.
Insta360 claims that DJI’s Osmo Pocket series, its latest Ronin and RS gimbal lineups, the Osmo Mobile, and the newly released 'Osmo 360' camera all infringe on its proprietary gimbal stabilization control and panoramic video stitching patents. Insta360 CEO JK Liu fiercely criticized the move, stating, "The Luna series is the result of our independent R&D since 2020. Timing the lawsuit perfectly with our launch date clearly shows that DJI is simply afraid of the competition."
📝 Editor's Note
"This is a microcosm of the broader US-China geopolitical tech battle, tangled up in regulations and litigation. Just as Insta360 catches its breath from the GoPro dispute, it turns around to strike at the heart of DJI—the pioneer of gimbals. This legal battle over U.S. market share will likely be a major turning point for the future of the creator gear ecosystem. As users, we can only hope that legal warfare doesn't stifle genuine technical innovation."
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