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A patent dispute between a leading Chinese drone manufacturer and a well-known camera company is scheduled for trial in mainland China next month. Both firms recently filed lawsuits against each other in the United States but withdrew their claims before the month ended.
The drone company filed legal actions in several Chinese courts weeks ago, accusing the camera firm of patent infringement related to its Luna series of handheld gimbal cameras. One of the cases accepted by the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in southern China is set for trial on August 3, according to an informed source.
The drone manufacturer is requesting a court order that mandates the camera company to immediately stop all infringing activities, including manufacturing and selling the disputed products, and seeks compensation for financial damages and legal costs associated with defending its rights.
Meanwhile, the camera firm has countered with six claims in multiple courts, including those in Shenzhen and Ningbo. These counterclaims involve various patents related to panoramic imaging and editing, bullet-time shooting techniques, thermal management systems for cameras, camera expansion modules, and gimbal support technologies.
The conflict arises as both companies, based in Shenzhen, have aggressively expanded into each other’s core markets. Last July, the drone company launched its first panoramic camera, the Osmo 360, while the competitor ventured into drone technology last year by collaborating with a third party to develop the Antigravity drone brand, which debuted the world’s first panoramic drone, the Antigravity A1, at year’s end.
In March, the drone manufacturer initiated its first patent lawsuit against the camera company, targeting six drone-related patents. Then, in mid-June, both firms filed mutual patent infringement lawsuits in the United States but withdrew the cases by the end of the month.
A source close to the drone manufacturer explained that withdrawing from the US lawsuits was part of a broader global strategy and aimed at streamlining litigation efforts. This move does not signal a change in their commitment to protecting their intellectual property.
In the smart handheld camera segment, these two companies are the top global suppliers by shipment volume. Last year, the drone manufacturer shipped 10.4 million units, holding a 62 percent market share, while the camera firm delivered 3.4 million units, representing a 20 percent share, according to market research firm IDC.
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