The U.S. International Trade Commission issued a final determination on February 26, 2026 that upheld an earlier administrative law judge ruling that Insta360’s action‑camera products infringe GoPro’s design patent covering the HERO line. The decision includes a Limited Exclusion Order that bars U.S. Customs and Border Protection from allowing any further importation of the infringing products, and a Cease and Desist Order that prohibits Insta360 from selling, marketing, or distributing those cameras in the United States, effective after presidential review.
The import ban applies only to certain legacy models in Insta360’s Ace series; the company confirmed that its current product lineup will remain available for sale across the U.S. without restriction. This nuance means the ITC action does not broadly curtail Insta360’s sales channels, but it does prevent the import of the specific infringing models.
In addition to the design‑patent ruling, the ITC’s final determination found in favor of Insta360 on all five utility patent claims related to HyperSmooth stabilization and horizon‑leveling technology. The commission declared those patents invalid or not infringed, allowing Insta360 to continue selling its current stabilization‑enabled cameras without legal impediment.
Following the announcement, GoPro’s stock rose 6.9% as investors reacted to the reinforcement of the company’s iconic design IP. The market viewed the design‑patent win as a positive signal for GoPro’s brand protection, even though the ruling does not affect Insta360’s current offerings.
The decision underscores GoPro’s aggressive intellectual‑property strategy, which protects its visual identity but leaves its technological innovations in competition with Insta360. While the design‑patent victory may deter future design imitation, the utility‑patent ruling preserves Insta360’s competitive edge in stabilization technology, meaning GoPro’s market share in the action‑camera segment remains challenged by DJI and Insta360.
Overall, the ITC action strengthens GoPro’s design‑patent portfolio but has limited impact on the current U.S. market for Insta360’s products. The ruling highlights the importance of a comprehensive IP strategy that covers both design and functional aspects of a product, and it illustrates how regulatory decisions can shape competitive dynamics in a crowded technology market.
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