SmallRig Secures Landmark Patent Victory Against Neewer

The court dismissed Neewer’s appeal, affirming that its products infringed upon Leqi Innovation’s protected designs. Under the mandate, the defendants must cease production, destroy remaining inventory and promotional materials, and cover all litigation costs. The awarded damages have already been settled in full. This case serves as a critical precedent in an industry increasingly plagued by copycat products that mirror structural features of original photography gear to undercut prices on platforms like Amazon.

Enforcing intellectual property remains a complex hurdle due to fragmented supply chains where tooling, manufacturing, and distribution often involve separate entities. Despite these challenges, the imaging sector is shifting toward aggressive litigation. Companies like DJI and Insta360 have joined SmallRig in prioritizing patent protection to safeguard R&D investments. Legal experts suggest this win signals a stronger judicial stance on design rights, encouraging developers to pursue full recovery of legal and evidence-collection costs rather than accepting market imitation as an unavoidable cost of business.