The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued an initial ruling finding that Chinese action camera maker Insta360 infringed on one of GoPro’s design patents, but rejected GoPro’s broader utility patent claims.

California-based GoPro had accused Insta360 of infringing multiple patents related to its HERO and MAX cameras, particularly around video stabilisation and horizon levelling technologies.

The company welcomed the ITC judge’s decision, which found Insta360 violated federal law by importing and selling products in the US that infringed on GoPro’s HERO camera design patent.

GoPro also noted that several of its HyperSmooth video stabilisation-related patents were upheld as valid.

However, Insta360 has claimed the outcome as a win, highlighting that the ITC “rejected GoPro’s utility patent claims” outright.

The new GoPro Max 360

The ruling found that GoPro’s five asserted utility patents, covering image stabilisation, distortion correction, horizon levelling, and aspect ratio conversion, were either invalid, not infringed, or both.

Only the design patent infringement stands, and Insta360 claims it has already made design changes to address the issue.

Insta360 CEO JK Liu said the ruling confirms that “the future belongs to innovators, not litigators,” accusing GoPro of using IP litigation to stifle competition rather than compete on product merit.

The dispute began in 2024 after GoPro requested the ITC investigate Insta360’s alleged infringement and sought to block imports of its products into the US.

Despite the initial ruling, Insta360’s products remain on sale in the US and the company says the ruling will not disrupt its global operations.

Both parties now await the ITC’s final decision which is expected by November 10.

GoPro’s IP defence comes as competition in the action camera market heats up.

While GoPro remains a household name, Insta360 has been gaining traction with a broader and more versatile product lineup.