US trade panel rules Insta360 infringed GoPro design, with no impact on current offerings
The ruling does not affect Insta360’s current offerings as the ban on camera design infringement only affects legacy models
A US trade panel investigating a patent dispute between GoPro and Chinese rival Insta360 found a violation involving design applied to outdated cameras of the Chinese firm, effectively allowing it to remain in the US market without any restrictions.
The case centred on six patents held by GoPro. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) on Thursday determined violation of one patent relating to camera design, and issued orders “prohibiting the unlicensed importation by Insta360 of certain cameras and camera systems” that infringe the patent. The order will go into effect after a presidential review.
The design is best known for GoPro’s Hero action camera, which has been widely compared with Insta360’s Ace series.
However, the ban “applies only to certain legacy models in Insta360’s Ace series and has no impact on Insta360’s current product offerings in the United States”, said the Shenzhen-based device maker, also known as Arashi Vision, in a statement.
The remaining five patents, relating to utility features such as stabilisation, horizon levelling and distortion correction, do not constitute infringement, according to the ruling.
“As a result of the commission’s ruling, Insta360 will continue to import and sell its existing product line-up in the United States without restriction,” Insta360 said. It called the result “a complete victory”.