Chinese drone giant DJI has filed a lawsuit against rival Insta360 and its parent company Arashi Vision, accusing them of infringing on six patents related to flight control, image processing, and hardware design. The case has been brought to the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court, escalating tensions between two of China’s biggest players in drone and camera technology.
The core of the dispute involves former DJI employees who, after moving to Insta360, filed patents within a year of leaving DJI. Under Chinese law, inventions tied to previous employment created within 12 months after leaving belong to the former employer, and DJI is demanding these patent rights be officially transferred back to the company.
Insta360 CEO Liu Jingkang denied the allegations on Weibo, explaining that internal investigations confirm those patents were developed entirely within Insta360. He added that the original patent author names were withheld only to protect employees from aggressive poaching by competitors, not to conceal wrongdoing. Liu also pointed out that the contested patents haven’t been used for about five years, citing an automatic dive feature as an example, which he argues is impractical due to strict aviation regulations.
Liu criticized DJI, accusing the market leader of frequently borrowing ideas from others. According to Insta360’s internal data, some DJI products-including its Osmo 360 camera-might infringe upon up to 28 Insta360 patents. Despite this, Insta360 has no plans to counter-sue, choosing instead to focus on innovating. Notably, Insta360 recently won a patent dispute in the U.S., where the International Trade Commission dismissed all claims from GoPro.
DJI and Insta360 expand into overlapping drone and camera markets
The timing of DJI’s patent lawsuit comes as both companies push aggressively into each other’s technology markets. DJI is expanding its product line to include 360-degree cameras, while Insta360 is moving deeper into drones. Insta360’s subbrand Antigravity launched its A1 drone in late 2025, the first fully capable 360-degree shooting drone. DJI is expected to respond by unveiling its new Avata 360 drone on March 26, marking intensified competition in this niche.
Impact of the lawsuit on Arashi Vision shares and industry innovation
The dispute has already affected the business landscape: Arashi Vision’s shares tumbled nearly 7% following news of the lawsuit. As this rivalry intensifies, the case will test how China’s patent laws affect innovation in overlapping drone and camera technologies.
Industry watchers will be keen to see whether DJI’s aggressive legal move slows Insta360’s push into drones or sparks retaliatory legal actions. The outcome could influence future patent enforcement and innovation dynamics between major players in the drone and camera sectors.