DJI has filed a lawsuit against Insta360 in the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court, accusing the rival firm of holding patents that belong to DJI. The case, filed on March 23, 2026, involves six patents tied to drone flight systems, structural design, and image processing, and marks DJI’s first domestic legal action of this kind in China.
The dispute centers on former DJI engineers who later joined Insta360. DJI argues that the inventions behind these patents were created within one year of those employees leaving the company, a critical period under Chinese law. If proven, this could mean the work still legally belongs to DJI. The company says these technologies are closely related to projects the engineers worked on during their time at DJI, making the claim a direct extension of their previous roles.
Another key issue is how the patents were filed. Some inventor names were hidden in Chinese filings but revealed in international versions of the same patents. DJI claims those names match its former core research staff. This difference in disclosure could become central to the court’s decision, as it raises questions about transparency and ownership of the inventions.
The outcome of the case could shape how intellectual property is handled in China’s fast-moving tech sector, especially in industries where talent frequently moves between competitors.
This legal battle may set the rules for how far companies can claim rights over ideas after employees move on.
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