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DJI has filed a patent ownership lawsuit against Insta360’s parent company Arashi Vision in China, targeting six patents covering flight control, structural design, and image processing. Filed just three days before DJI’s own Avata 360 drone launch on March 26, 2026, this DJI Insta360 lawsuit marks the first time DJI has pursued a domestic patent ownership dispute — and it could reshape the booming 360-degree FPV drone market.
TL;DR — What You Need to Know
- DJI filed suit on March 23, 2026 at the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court against Arashi Vision (Insta360) over six patents
- Patents cover core drone tech: flight control systems, structural design, and image processing algorithms
- DJI’s argument: former DJI R&D engineers invented these technologies within one year of leaving, making them “service inventions” under Chinese law
- Insta360 CEO JK Liu fired back the same day, denying all claims and revealing 28 Insta360 patents that cover DJI products
- Arashi Vision shares dropped 7% on the news, closing at CNY 181.15 ($26.23)
- Timing is deliberate: lawsuit filed exactly 3 days before DJI Avata 360 launches on March 26
What DJI Is Claiming in the Patent Lawsuit
DJI’s legal argument centers on a specific provision in Chinese intellectual property law: “service inventions.” Under this rule, any innovation created by an employee within one year of leaving a company — if related to their previous duties — legally belongs to the former employer.
DJI claims that the six disputed patents were developed by former core R&D engineers who left DJI and joined Insta360. These aren’t peripheral features. The patents reportedly cover:
- Flight control systems — the algorithms that keep drones stable and responsive
- Structural design — physical drone architecture and component layout
- Image processing — how drones capture, stabilize, and process visual data
Adding intrigue to the case, some inventors were reportedly listed as “requesting anonymity” in domestic Chinese patent filings. But in corresponding international PCT filings — where disclosure is mandatory — their identities were revealed. A comparison reportedly shows these individuals are former DJI engineers who worked on critical drone projects, according to the South China Morning Post, which broke the story.
The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court has already accepted the case, signaling this is headed for a full legal showdown — not a preliminary dismissal.
Insta360 CEO Fires Back With 28-Patent Counter-Claim
Insta360 founder and CEO Liu Jingkang (JK Liu) didn’t wait to respond. On the same day, he published a detailed rebuttal on Weibo that hit every one of DJI’s claims.
His key points:
- “All innovations were independently created at Insta360.” Liu says an internal review confirmed every patent in question was generated using Insta360 resources and ideas.
- The most controversial patent was his own idea. The flight-control patent everyone is watching — a one-click “building dive” FPV flight effect — was Liu’s personal concept. He says it was never implemented in products and offered to simply give it to DJI.
- Hiding inventor names is standard practice. Liu explained that Insta360 routinely conceals inventor names in Chinese filings to protect engineers from headhunters, revealing them only in mandatory international PCT applications. He noted that non-DJI former employees were also hidden, undermining DJI’s narrative.
- Most patents are 4-5 years old and unused. Product direction has changed significantly since these were filed.
Then came the bombshell: Liu revealed that Insta360 has identified 28 of its own patents that DJI products potentially infringe — 11 hardware and structural patents, 8 software-method patents, 6 control-method patents, and 3 accessory patents. Insta360 has not filed suit on any of them.
“As a smaller company with limited resources, we prioritize innovation over litigation,” Liu wrote. But he made the red line clear: Insta360 would deploy its patent portfolio if directly blocked from launching products or entering new categories.
Why the Timing Matters: Avata 360 vs. Antigravity A1
This lawsuit isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s happening at the exact inflection point where DJI and Insta360’s product lines collide head-on.
For years, these two Shenzhen companies operated in adjacent spaces. DJI dominated consumer drones with a 73% market share in China (per LeadLeo’s 2025 report). Insta360 built a global following with 360-degree cameras like the X5 and ONE RS series.
That separation collapsed in 2025. Here’s the timeline:
- July 2025: DJI launched the Osmo 360, its first 360-degree camera, stepping directly onto Insta360’s turf
- September 2025: DJI released Osmo Nano, widely compared to Insta360’s Go Ultra
- August 2025: Insta360 unveiled the Antigravity A1 through its drone brand — the world’s first 8K 360-degree drone, priced from $1,599
- December 2025: Antigravity A1 sales exceeded CNY 30 million ($4.3 million) within 48 hours in China
- March 26, 2026: DJI launches the Avata 360 — its first 360-degree FPV drone, a direct competitor to the Antigravity A1
DJI now accounts for 62% of the global handheld smart camera market (action cameras + 360 models), with Insta360 at 20% and GoPro at 11%, according to IDC. But Insta360 “maintains its leading position” in the 360-camera niche specifically.
The Avata 360 is expected to feature 8K 360-degree video capture, upgraded obstacle sensing, LiDAR-assisted navigation, and compatibility with DJI’s latest video headsets and motion controllers. By filing suit three days before this launch, DJI is sending a clear message about who controls the underlying technology.
The Bigger Picture: Talent Wars in Shenzhen’s Tech Scene
Beyond the immediate product battle, this case highlights a growing tension in China’s high-tech sector: the movement of engineers between competing companies working on similar problems.
Shenzhen is a concentrated hub for drone and imaging technology. Engineers frequently move between firms, and the line between “knowledge you carry in your head” and “intellectual property belonging to your employer” is legally contentious everywhere — not just in China.
If the court sides with DJI, it could set a powerful precedent around how far former employees can take their expertise. That would have chilling effects on talent mobility across Shenzhen’s entire drone ecosystem.
Insta360’s response suggests the company is prepared for a long fight. The firm spent over $10 million defending itself against GoPro’s patent claims in the U.S. — a battle Insta360 won in February 2026 when the International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that the three invention patents were either invalid or not infringed. Liu indicated the same resolve applies here.
Meanwhile, Insta360’s R&D spending tells its own story: 1.65 billion yuan ($230M) in 2025, up 112.4% year-over-year. Total revenue hit 9.86 billion yuan ($1.37B), up 76.58%. The company is clearly investing aggressively in its own technology stack.
What This Means for Drone Buyers
If you’re eyeing either the DJI Avata 360 or the Insta360 Antigravity A1, here’s what matters right now:
- No immediate product impact. This is a Chinese domestic court case. Current products from both companies remain available globally without restriction.
- The Avata 360 launches March 26 as planned. DJI filing this suit doesn’t slow its own product rollout — if anything, it’s a coordinated strategy.
- Insta360 products are safe to buy. The Antigravity A1, X4, Ace Pro 2, and other models are unaffected.
- Long-term pricing could shift. If DJI wins patent ownership, Insta360 might need to license technology or redesign features, potentially affecting future product pricing.
- Competition is good for buyers. Both companies are pushing each other to innovate faster. The 360-degree drone category barely existed a year ago — now we’re getting 8K options from multiple manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What patents is DJI suing Insta360 over?
DJI’s lawsuit targets six patents covering flight control systems, structural design, and image processing — core drone technologies. DJI claims these were invented by former employees who joined Insta360 within a year of leaving DJI.
Could the DJI lawsuit block Insta360 products?
Not immediately. This is a patent ownership dispute filed in a Chinese court. Even if DJI wins, it would take time for any injunctions to take effect. Current Insta360 products remain fully available worldwide.
What is the DJI Avata 360?
The DJI Avata 360 is DJI’s first 360-degree FPV drone, launching March 26, 2026. It’s expected to feature 8K 360-degree video, LiDAR navigation, and compatibility with DJI’s latest headsets and motion controllers. It directly competes with Insta360’s Antigravity A1.
How did Insta360 respond to DJI’s lawsuit?
Insta360 CEO JK Liu denied all claims, stating all patents were independently developed. He also revealed that Insta360 has identified 28 of its own patents that DJI products may infringe but has chosen not to sue.
Does the GoPro vs Insta360 case affect this lawsuit?
Not directly, but it’s relevant context. Insta360 won the GoPro patent battle in February 2026 after spending over $10 million on its defense. The company has indicated it will bring the same resolve to the DJI case.
The Bottom Line
This DJI Insta360 lawsuit is the legal front of a rapidly escalating product war. DJI isn’t just launching the Avata 360 — it’s trying to establish that the foundational technology behind 360-degree drones belongs to DJI, period. Insta360 is pushing back hard, armed with its own patent arsenal and fresh off a victory against GoPro.
For consumers, this is actually a sign of a healthy, competitive market. Both companies are innovating aggressively, and the 360-degree drone category is expanding faster than anyone predicted. The court will sort out the patent ownership. Meanwhile, both the Avata 360 and Antigravity A1 represent genuinely exciting options for FPV and creative drone pilots.
We’ll keep tracking this case as it develops. Stay tuned to TheRoboWire for the latest on the drone industry‘s biggest stories and our upcoming hands-on reviews of both the DJI Avata 360 and Insta360 Antigravity A1.
