Textron Secures $279M Victory in Patent Battle with Chinese Drone Maker DJI

Haye Kesteloo
Tháng tư 27, 2023
China, DJI, Legal, Rhode Island, Texas

Lawmakers Urge Biden to Halt Export Licenses for Chinese Drone Giant DJI

US aerospace giant Textron Inc (TXT.N) scored a significant Legal victory on Friday, securing a $279 million verdict against China‘s leading drone producer, DJI Technology. A federal jury in Waco, Texas, concluded that DJI had willfully infringed upon Textron’s patents following a week-long trial.

The jury sided with Textron Innovations Inc, a subsidiary of the Rhode Island-based company, affirming that DJI’s drones breached Textron’s rights in two patents concerning drone flight control systems.

DJI immediately contested the decision, with a spokesperson stating on Monday that the company “strongly disagrees” with the verdict and intends to “vigorously pursue all options” in order to protect its legal rights, Reuters reported.

In their statement, DJI emphasized the differences between the two companies: “Textron is a military helicopter company. DJI is a civilian drone company. No commonality exists between the technologies.” Textron responded on Monday, expressing gratitude that their “history of innovation was recognized.”

The legal battle began in 2021 when Textron sued DJI, alleging that several DJI drone models with automatic hovering capabilities functioned similarly to Textron’s patented technology. DJI refuted these claims, maintaining that the patents in question were invalid.

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Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is a leading drone industry expert and Editor in Chief of DroneXL.co and EVXL.co, where he covers drone technology, industry developments, and electric mobility trends. With over nine years of specialized coverage in unmanned aerial systems, his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and cited by The Brookings Institute, Foreign Policy, Politico and others.

Before founding DroneXL.co, Kesteloo built his expertise at DroneDJ. He currently co-hosts the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and podcast platforms, sharing industry insights with a global audience. His reporting has influenced policy discussions and been referenced in federal documents, establishing him as an authoritative voice in drone technology and regulation. He can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.