Insta360 Responds to GoPro’s Utility Patent Claims
According to Insta360’s press release, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has, in fact, rejected GoPro's utility patent claims against Insta360 in Investigation No. 337-TA-1400. The initial determination, as shared in the GoPro press release, which was issued by an Administrative Law Judge in Washington, D.C., ruled that GoPro's five utility patents relating to stabilization, horizon leveling, distortion, and aspect ratio conversion are invalid, not infringed, or both.
In addition, Insta360 reports that the Administrative Law Judge confirmed that Insta360's proactive design updates fall outside the scope of GoPro's lone asserted design patent (U.S. Patent No. D789,435).
"The U.S. International Trade Commission's initial determination affirms what many in our industry already know: the future belongs to innovators, not litigators. While GoPro sought to block competition by asserting a wide array of patents, the majority of those claims were either found not to be infringed or ruled invalid. That speaks volumes." — JK Liu, Founder of Insta360.
Liu goes on to share that this “isn’t just about Insta360,” but it’s “about an ecosystem where established players use litigation as a business strategy, hoping to stall faster, smarter, more agile challengers.”
Credit: Insta360
What’s Next?
Obviously, there’s a lot to unpack here and will likely be more to come. For now, though, having two of the top action camera manufacturers duking it out in court likely doesn’t help consumers and content professionals in the short term, but that also just might be the way things go in the modern world we live in.
Hopefully, for the sake of those looking for quality action cameras, diverse competition, and increased innovation and decreases in prices, this will be resolved soon. As far as next updates, both companies can at least agree that more will be known once a final determination from the full Commission comes in, which is expected by November 10, 2025.
