The Gimbal Wars: DJI Sues Insta360 Over Luna Ultra Design

Just when you thought the handheld camera market couldn’t get any more heated, the lawyers have entered the chat. Only days after Insta360 unveiled its Luna Ultra—a direct rival to the popular DJI Osmo Pocket 4P—DJI responded by filing not one, but two patent infringement lawsuits in the United States.

A Case of Double Vision?

If you put the two cameras side-by-side, you don’t exactly need a magnifying glass to see the similarities. DJI’s first lawsuit centers on design patents, essentially claiming that Insta360’s new Luna series is a “copycat” of the Osmo Pocket line. From the elongated body and the specific neck connecting to the gimbal to the way the screen rotates and the buttons are laid out, DJI argues the resemblance is far from coincidental.

DJI is pushing for an injunction, which is legal-speak for “stop selling these in the U.S. immediately.” Whether a judge will agree that the “ornamental design” is unique enough to warrant that remains the million-dollar question, but DJI is clearly ready to fight for its aesthetic territory.

It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts

DJI isn’t just upset about the looks; they’re coming after the internal tech too. The second lawsuit targets four utility patents that cover how these gimbals actually function. This includes some of the core features that make modern vlogging cameras so easy to use:

• Single-button mode switching: Toggling between follow and locked modes seamlessly.
• Built-in tracking: Real-time subject tracking that works on the device’s screen without needing a smartphone app.
• Advanced motor commands: How the camera’s image data directly tells the gimbal motors where to move to keep a subject in frame.

A Growing Rivalry

This isn’t the first time these two tech giants have locked horns. Earlier this year, DJI took Insta360 to court in China, alleging the company poached former employees and used stolen R&D to file drone patents. It’s clear that the rivalry has shifted from friendly competition to a full-blown legal battle for market dominance.

For now, the Luna Ultra is still available, but with DJI’s legal team on the offensive, the future of Insta360’s latest pocket camera in the U.S. market is looking a little more uncertain. It’s a bold move from DJI, and one that highlights just how high the stakes are in the world of mobile cinematography.