In response to social media rumors claiming that well-known drone manufacturer DJI had been fined a staggering $6 billion in the US for alleged patent infringement, the company issued a statement on October 31 strongly denying this speculation.

Christina Zhang, DJI’s senior director of strategic planning and external communications, denied these allegations and announced that the final settlement amount determined by the court in April this year was $279 million.

Zhang emphasized that the case is pending and no updated information regarding the decision is currently provided. DJI vehemently opposed the jury’s decision, staunchly stating that its products do not use Textron technology. Military helicopter company Textron has accused civilian drone manufacturer DJI of patent infringement.

DJI argued that the technologies in question are fundamentally different because the underlying patent cited by Textron was filed in 2011. It is noteworthy that DJI already included this technology in its XP3.1 model, which was released in 2009.

Given these circumstances, DJI has expressed its intention to explore further legal remedies, considering the possibility of continuing to appeal. The company maintained its confidence in the case, believing that local laws would eventually provide a fair and equitable resolution to the ongoing dispute. As the case continues to unfold, DJI is maintaining its stance, denying the rumors and reaffirming its commitment to defending its position in the courtroom.

What is the DJI and Textron lawsuit:

In 2021, American aerospace company Textron Inc. A lawsuit was filed against Chinese drone manufacturer DJI Technology, alleging patent infringement of drone flight control systems. In the lawsuit filed in federal court in Waco, Texas, DJI was accused of willfully infringing Textron’s patents regarding the automatic hover capabilities of its drones.

After a week-long trial, the case resulted in a major victory for Textron. A federal jury ruled in favor of Textron, awarding the company $279 million in damages. The jury found DJI guilty of infringing Textron’s patents, despite DJI’s strong denials and insistence on the differences between their technology and Textron’s military helicopter systems.

DJI responded by firmly opposing the decision and reiterating its commitment to vigorously defend its legal rights. The decision comes amid growing concerns that the US Department of Defense has previously restricted investment in DJI and other Chinese companies due to their alleged ties to the Chinese military.

During the hearing, DJI argued that its products were never intended or marketed for military use and emphasized their status as civilian drones. Despite their pleas, the court ruled in favor of Textron, marking a significant legal victory for the American aerospace company.