DJI and Insta360 Clash in U.S. Patent War Over Gimbal Cameras

DJI claims the Insta360 Luna series mirrors the architecture of its own Osmo Pocket 3, citing specific infringements regarding integrated optics, gimbal stabilization, and tracking features. The litigation marks an aggressive attempt by DJI to protect its market position. Insta360 responded swiftly with a countersuit, asserting that DJI violated five of its own patents covering gimbal control, telemetry overlays, and panoramic stabilization across the Osmo Pocket, Ronin, and Osmo Mobile series.

This legal escalation arrives during a period of restricted access for DJI in the United States. Due to its classification as a Chinese military company by the U.S. government, DJI faces significant hurdles in distributing its latest hardware, including the forthcoming Osmo Pocket 4 Pro. With DJI unable to effectively challenge the Luna Ultra on store shelves, the company is leveraging patent law to disrupt its competitor’s expansion. The conflict follows a separate legal dispute initiated by DJI in China this March, where the company alleged that former employees developed drone-related patents for Insta360 shortly after leaving DJI’s workforce. As both firms vie for dominance in the niche gimbal sector, the courts will now decide which company owns the fundamental technology behind modern handheld cinematography.