GoPro, Inc. said a U.S. judge with the International Trade Commission (ITC) has ruled that Insta360, a Chinese-based maker of action cameras, broke federal law with products that infringe GoPro’s intellectual property covering its iconic Hero camera design.
A media release from GoPro states the judge found that “Insta360 infringed on a patent covering GoPro’s iconic Hero camera design” as well as “its validation of multiple patent claims covering GoPro’s industry-leading HyperSmooth video stabilization.”
Insta360, in a media press release, said the judge ruled that “GoPro’s five utility patents relating to stabilization, horizon leveling, distortion, and aspect ratio conversion are invalid, not infringed or both.”
The ITC launched its investigation into Insta360 in 2024 following a complaint by GoPro. In its complaint, GoPro said that Insta360 infringed on patents for the “novel and proprietary SuperView, virtual lens, HyperSmooth, and Horizon Leveling technology” in the company’s Hero and Max cameras, according to Reuters.
GoPro said it intends to brief the Commission on other outstanding issues in its infringement case against Insta360. The ITC is expected to issue its Final Determination on all of GoPro’s infringement claims against Insta360 by November 10, 2025.
GoPro said the litigation process “has strengthened GoPro’s intellectual property portfolio” while noting that it has more than 1,500 US patents.
“GoPro welcomes fair competition as it drives us to innovate, but we will litigate to protect our IP when we believe it is being infringed,” said Nicholas Woodman, GoPro’s founder and CEO. “We have been an American innovator and market leader for twenty-three years, and we will not sit idle while we believe others unjustly take advantage of our hard work, investment and innovation.”
Insta360 stated in its announcement that the ITC’s preliminary determination does not impact Insta360’s U.S. product availability or its global operations.
“The U.S. International Trade Commission’s initial determination affirms what many in our industry already know: the future belongs to innovators, not litigators,” said JK Liu, founder of Insta360. “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.”
“This isn’t just about Insta360; this is about an ecosystem where established players use litigation as a business strategy, hoping to stall faster, smarter more agile challengers. It’s a familiar playbook: instead of building better products, they try to slow down those who do. We will continue to stand up for our products, our team and the creative community we serve — and we will not be deterred by legal maneuvering aimed at protecting market share rather than consumers,” said Insta360.
Insta360 has filed multiple inter partes review (IPR) petitions with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to challenge the validity of GoPro’s patents, some of which are currently under review. The company has also initiated patent litigation in China against entities affiliated with GoPro.
Image courtesy GoPro
