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DJI and Insta360 Engage in Patent Lawsuits Over Gimbal Camera Technology

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DJI and Insta360 Engage in Cross-Border Patent War Over Gimbal and 360-Degree Camera Technology

"We respect intellectual property, but we also respect facts, legal procedures, and rulings." — Insta360

In June 2026, two competing technology companies, DJI and Insta360, filed multiple patent infringement lawsuits against each other in the United States. The legal actions concern gimbal camera technology, 360-degree camera technology, and related products.

DJI Lawsuits Against Insta360

DJI filed two patent lawsuits against Arashi Vision Inc., doing business as Insta360, on June 10, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. The lawsuits target Insta360's Luna line of gimbal cameras, including the Luna Pro and Luna Ultra models, supporting accessories, and the Insta360 mobile application.

Design Patent Lawsuit

The first lawsuit alleges two violations of design patents. DJI claims the Luna Pro and Luna Ultra copy the ornamental design of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. The alleged copied design features include the elongated handheld body, neck, gimbal assembly, camera, rotatable display, bezel, control section, scroll wheel, record button, side-mounted accessory slot, and port opening.

Utility Patent Lawsuit

The second lawsuit alleges four violations of utility patents. The patents cover:

  • A control device for a gimbal that enables mode switching between follow and locked modes via a single control
  • A handheld gimbal with integrated subject tracking and real-time display
  • A gimbal control method where the device's own image of the target drives motor commands
  • A self-contained system for tracking a subject and displaying the image on the gimbal's screen

DJI's Claims

DJI asserts that Insta360 had knowledge of the asserted patents and that the continued importation, manufacture, use, sale, and offer for sale of the accused products constitute willful infringement. DJI seeks a permanent injunction, damages including reasonable royalty and profit disgorgement, enhanced damages for willful infringement, and attorneys' fees.

Timing of Lawsuits

DJI filed the lawsuits after Insta360 began officially selling the Luna in the United States on the previous day. Insta360 had been demonstrating the products since at least the 2026 NAB Show.

Previous Legal Action

Earlier in 2026, DJI sued Insta360 for patent infringement concerning drone-based image processing technology.

Insta360 Countersuits Against DJI

Insta360 filed two patent countersuits against DJI, alleging violations of five utility patents related to gimbal and 360-degree camera technology. The claimed technologies include gimbal stabilization, directional control, smooth stabilization, telemetry overlay, and panoramic video stabilization.

Insta360 states these technologies are used in DJI products including the Osmo Pocket, Ronin/RS, Osmo Mobile, and Osmo 360.

Responses and Statements

Insta360's Position

Insta360 states that its products and technology result from years of independent innovation. The company rejects DJI's allegations and will defend itself through the legal process.

Insta360 founder JK Liu stated that the patents in question were invented by former DJI employees who joined Insta360, but that the ideas were independently created at Insta360. Liu claimed that a key drone-related patent was his own idea. Liu also stated that Insta360 did not enforce patents against DJI despite finding that DJI products could infringe 28 Insta360 patents.

Insta360 stated its belief that DJI's lawsuits are intended to disrupt the Luna product launch.

Background

Patent Ownership Case in China

DJI previously filed a patent ownership lawsuit in China against Insta360's parent company, Arashi Vision, concerning patents allegedly developed by former DJI employees within one year of leaving DJI.

Previous ITC Investigation

Insta360 highlighted a previous victory in US International Trade Commission (ITC) Investigation No. 337-TA-1400 in February 2023, where claims by GoPro against Insta360 were rejected, resulting in Insta360 being cleared on all patents.