On March 23, 2026, according to a report from Economic Reference Daily, Shenzhen DJI Innovations Co., Ltd., a global leader in consumer drones, officially filed a lawsuit against YingShi Innovation Co., Ltd. (688775.SH) at the Intermediate People’s Court of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. This marks DJI's first domestic patent ownership dispute litigation in China, involving six contested patent application rights. The case highlights the involvement of multiple former key research and development personnel from DJI.
In response to the lawsuit, YingShi Innovation acknowledged being aware of the situation. The company stated that its legal department is currently reviewing the matter and will disclose relevant information to the public if it meets the required disclosure standards.
The crux of the dispute revolves around the ownership of six patents that DJI claims should belong to it under Chinese patent law. These patents cover technologies in drone flight control, structural design, and image processing. DJI asserts that these patents were developed by former employees within one year of their departure from DJI, and are closely related to the duties undertaken during their tenure at the company.
According to the pertinent articles of the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China (and its Implementing Rules), inventions made during the performance of one’s job or primarily utilizing the material and technical conditions of one's employer are classified as “service inventions.” Patent rights to service inventions are held by the employing organization. Therefore, inventions made within one year after leaving an organization, if related to the employee's previous roles or tasks assigned by the former employer, may also be considered service inventions.
Sources familiar with the case indicate that for two patents related to flight control and structural design, YingShi Innovation designated a key inventor as "name withheld" in its Chinese patent application. However, in corresponding international patent applications (PCT), the inventor's full name was listed, confirming that the individual is indeed a former core R&D staff member from DJI.
Founded in 2006, DJI has been dedicated to the drone industry for nearly two decades, becoming a dominant force in the global market with over 80% market share. Its core business encompasses both consumer and commercial drones, along with involvement in action cameras and gimbal technology.
This legal development underscores the ongoing tensions within the high-stakes drone industry and raises important questions regarding intellectual property rights, innovation, and the dynamics of competition in rapidly evolving technology sectors. As the court proceedings unfold, the implications for both companies and the broader industry remain to be seen.