DJI SUES INSTA360... DEJAVU MOMENT ANYONE?

DJI filed two patent lawsuits against Insta360 on June 10, the same day Insta360 began selling the Luna Ultra in the United States. The suits target the entire Luna series, including the new Luna Ultra, supporting accessories, and the Insta360 mobile app. DJI is seeking a permanent injunction that would ban the Luna Ultra from the US market, plus monetary damages.

In its complaint, DJI accused Insta360 of copying its patented inventions wholesale. "Insta360’s new Luna line of gimbal cameras, including but not limited to the Luna Ultra, supporting accessories, and the Insta360 mobile application (collectively, the “Accused Products”) blatantly copy DJI’s patented inventions wholesale," The first suit alleges two design patent violations. Across both suits, DJI claims four utility patent violations.

INSTA360 RESPONDS AGGRESSIVELY

The company filed its own patent suits against DJI in the US, asserting five infringement claims covering gimbal stabilization, gimbal directional control, camera smooth stabilization, telemetry overlay, and panoramic video stabilization. "The company asserts that DJI infringed its patents relating to gimbal stabilization, gimbal directional control, camera smooth stabilization, telemetry overlay, and panoramic video stabilization," Insta360 says those patents are infringed in several DJI products including the Osmo Pocket series, Ronin/RS series, and Osmo Mobile series.

DAY OF LAUNCH TIMING

The timing was not accidental.

DJI filed its lawsuits on the same day Insta360 made the Luna Ultra available for sale in the US. The product had launched just days earlier. Insta360's countersuits are a direct response to DJI's legal action, according to the company.

The Luna Ultra is the higher-end model in the Luna line. Development started in 2020, drawing on technology from earlier Insta360 products including the ONE R, Link Series webcams, and Flow Series gimbals. It retails for roughly $770.

MARKET CONTEXT & CHINA CONNECTION

Insta360's Luna Ultra is filling a void in the US that DJI cannot fill. Insta360 saw significant demand in North America, ranking as the top seller in Amazon's camcorder category in its first 24 hours. "significant demand"

DPReview noted that the Luna Ultra and DJI's Osmo Pocket 3 share two lenses and integrated gimbals, with a similar form factor. "two lenses and integrated gimbals, and a similar form-factor." That similarity is at the heart of DJI's design patent claims.

This is not the first legal battle between the two companies. In March, DJI filed a lawsuit in China against Insta360, claiming that six drone-related patents held by Insta360 were developed by employees who left DJI within one year. Chinese patent law gives companies a claim on inventions made by former employees within that window.

Insta360 categorically rejected DJI's infringement claims regarding the Luna Ultra.

THE DISPUTE GOES BEYOND A SINGLE PRODUCT

DJI is trying to prevent Insta360 from capturing the US gimbal camera market. A permanent injunction against the Luna Ultra would remove Insta360's most direct competitor to the Osmo Pocket series from US shelves.

Insta360's countersuits aim to hit DJI across its entire gimbal lineup. If successful, they could disrupt DJI's US sales for a range of products, not just the ones that directly compete with Luna.

The legal battle will likely take months or years.

For now, Insta360's Luna Ultra remains on sale, and DJI's own Osmo Pocket 4 Pro and other products are still available. But the fight over who owns the design of the handheld gimbal camera is just beginning.