Quick Take
On June 10 — the day Insta360 launched the Luna Ultra — DJI filed two patent lawsuits asking a US court to ban the camera from sale. Insta360 countersued two days later. For now the Luna Ultra is still on shelves and selling well, and patent cases like this take a long time, so there’s no need to panic-buy or avoid it. If you already own one, you’re fine.
DJI just did something that would have been hard to imagine a few years ago: it accused a rival of copying. The day Insta360 launched the Insta360 Luna Ultra, DJI took it to court — and it’s asking a judge to ban the Luna from sale in the United States. The DJI vs Insta360 lawsuit is messy, a little ironic, and it matters if you’re shopping for a pocket camera right now. Here’s what’s actually going on.
What the DJI vs Insta360 lawsuit actually says
On June 10, Insta360 launched the Luna Ultra — a dual-lens pocket camera with Leica lenses, 8K, and a screen that pops off the top. That same day, DJI filed two patent lawsuits against it in a federal court in Texas.
The first is about design: DJI argues the Luna Ultra looks too much like its Osmo Pocket — the long body, the little neck up to the gimbal, the screen on top, even the accessory slot on the side. The second is about how the camera works: DJI says Insta360 copied things like the single control that flips the gimbal between follow and locked modes, the subject tracking shown live on screen, and the way the camera uses its own image to move the gimbal and keep you in frame. And DJI isn’t only after money — it’s asking the court to stop Insta360 from selling the Luna in the US at all, plus damages, a slice of profits, and extra penalties for what it calls deliberate copying.
Insta360 fires back — and the irony
Insta360 didn’t sit still. Two days later it filed its own countersuits, pointing at five of its patents and arguing it’s actually DJI leaning on its technology — gimbal stabilization, subject tracking, and the data overlay on your footage — across the Osmo Pocket, Osmo Mobile, Ronin gimbals, and Osmo 360. Its position: the Luna is years of its own work, and if anyone’s borrowing ideas here, it’s DJI.
Here’s the part a lot of people can’t take seriously. While DJI sues over a camera that looks like the Osmo Pocket, DJI’s own Pocket cameras are sold in the US under a different name — rebranded as the Xtra Muse, with all signs pointing to the same hardware minus the DJI badge. DJI does that because it’s on a US government restricted list and can’t sell under its own name here. So DJI is going after a look-alike while quietly shipping a look-alike of its own.
Could the Luna Ultra actually get banned?
Honest take, and I’m not a lawyer — this isn’t legal advice, just a camera guy reading the situation. These cases usually drag on for a long time, and getting a court to fully block a product from sale is a high bar that doesn’t happen quickly. I wouldn’t expect the Luna to disappear off shelves next week, and if you already bought one, anything sold before any ban would stay yours to use. The bigger picture is that this looks less like DJI defending a big idea and more like DJI fighting for a US market it’s mostly locked out of — because the Luna Ultra is the pocket camera Americans can actually walk into a store and buy today.
What it means if you’re buying right now
It depends on where you sit. If you’ve been holding out for the DJI Pocket 4 Pro in the US, here’s the hard truth — it’s not really coming under DJI’s name, so you’d be looking at third-party sellers or the rebranded version. If you’d rather not deal with that uncertainty, the Luna is a safe try, and you can always return it if it’s not for you. And if you already own a Pocket 3 or any good pocket camera, there’s no reason to rush — mine is two years old and still does 90% of what most people need. From here, the thing to watch is whether a judge acts on DJI’s request for an early sales ban; after that, it’s the countersuit playing out, and a real chance these two just settle quietly.
Frequently asked questions
DJI filed two patent lawsuits claiming the Insta360 Luna Ultra copies its Osmo Pocket — one over the camera’s design and one over how it works, including gimbal control and on-screen subject tracking. DJI is asking a US federal court to ban the Luna from sale and award damages.
No. The Luna Ultra is still on sale in the US and selling well. DJI is asking a court to ban it, but no ban has been granted, and these cases typically take a long time to resolve. Buying one today is low-risk, and anything already purchased stays yours to use.
Yes. Two days after DJI’s filing, Insta360 countersued with five of its own patents, arguing DJI uses its technology — gimbal stabilization, subject tracking, and footage data overlays — across the Osmo Pocket, Osmo Mobile, Ronin, and Osmo 360.
It’s the name DJI’s Pocket 4 Pro is expected to be sold under in the US — a near-identical camera from a separate brand, with all signs pointing to DJI hardware underneath. DJI uses the rebrand because it’s on a US restricted list and can’t sell under its own name.
If it fits how you shoot, yes. At around $770 it’s a real investment and it’s a first-generation camera, but you get Leica lenses, 8K, lossless zoom, and a pop-off remote screen. The lawsuit shouldn’t stop you — just buy it because it’s the right camera, not because of the drama.
