Nikon Loses its Patent Lawsuit Against Viltrox
Nikon lost a Chinese patent lawsuit against Viltrox after a court ruled Nikon's Z-mount technology patents are invalid.Summary
Nikon has lost a significant patent infringement lawsuit in China against lens manufacturer Viltrox. The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) issued a 25-page ruling stating that Nikon's Z-mount bayonet design and electronic terminal structure patents are invalid. The court determined that Nikon's designs do not meet the legal standard for novelty, as they do not exceed the ordinary skill level found in the broader landscape of lens mount technologies.
Nikon had alleged that Viltrox sold lenses using protected technology before the patents were officially approved and sought compensation for those sales. However, because the patents were deemed insufficiently novel, Nikon lacks the legal grounds to pursue Viltrox for these design similarities. Nikon has three months to appeal the decision or file a new lawsuit.
When contacted for comment, Nikon declined to provide specific details, stating they would refrain from further comment out of respect for the judicial system. This marks a shift from earlier in the year when the company would neither confirm nor deny the existence of legal action regarding the Z-mount ecosystem.
(Source：Headtopics)