In a recent turn of events that may have significant implications for third-party lens options for Nikon Z-mount users, the company has filed a lawsuit against Chinese lens maker Viltrox. This lawsuit has been filed with the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court and is based on infringement during the provisional protection period of one of Nikon’s invention patents.
Case Overview
Court and Case Number: Shanghai Intellectual Property Court – (2025) Hu73 Zhi Min Chu No. 182
Plaintiff: Nikon Corporation
Defendants: Shenzhen Viltrox Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Jueying Technology Co., Ltd. (the parent company of Viltrox and their manufacturing arm), and Shanghai Qiuhong Photographic Equipment Co., Ltd.
Nature of Dispute: Payment of royalties for the period during which the patent was under provisional protection. This includes the payment of back royalties for any infringement that may have taken place during the period.
Hearing Date: March 2, 2026.
Products Potentially Involved
The lawsuit has been filed over Viltrox’s Z-mount lenses. This includes the high-end LAB series of autofocus prime lenses that offer affordable alternatives to the premium S-series lenses offered by Nikon. Viltrox has been offering around 25 different Z-mount lenses since their foray into the market in 2021. The company’s lenses have been receiving high praise for their quality and affordability. There is also a report that the company’s Z-mount teleconverter is another lens that has been targeted for infringement. This is due to the fact that the teleconverter is a direct competitor to the one offered by Nikon.
Nikon’s Position
In a statement, Nikon emphasized their commitment to a healthy ecosystem by saying, “Nikon has always worked with officially licensed partner companies to expand the Z-mount ecosystem. We promote technological advancement through healthy competition and encourage the use of third-party lenses from manufacturers licensed by Nikon.” It appears that Nikon makes a clear distinction between licensed and unlicensed third-party companies.
Possible Outcomes and Broader Context
The possible outcomes of this case include Nikon forcing Viltrox to sign a licensing agreement, paying royalties, or, in a worst-case scenario, banning Viltrox from selling their products or restricting their Z-mount compatibility in the future, similar to what Nikon has already done to Canon’s third-party RF-mount lenses.
This is not the first time Nikon has taken action against a third-party manufacturer for patent infringement, and this case might set a precedent for Nikon’s and other companies’ approaches to Chinese third-party brands in the future.
Other cases of Nikon’s patent infringement claims include their settlements with Sigma Corporation regarding image stabilization patents, but this particular case might set a precedent for Nikon’s and other companies’ approaches to Chinese third-party brands in the future.