Nikon Patent Dispute With Viltrox Invalidated in China

Last Updated on 07/29/2026 by Chris Gampat

For a while now, Viltrox and Nikon have been in a lawsuit about the lens maker manufacturing and selling lenses for Nikon’s Z mount. The talks of patent issues even frightened other Chinese manufacturers. In a similar fashion we (jokingly) predicted that Nikon would purchase Viltrox. But that’s not seeming to be the case. Reports of Nikon’s Z-mount patent protection in China have made huge progress. Per reports, the Chinese patent authority has invalidated one of Nikon’s core Z-mount-related patents. This seems like a direct result of the reports filed by the company behind Viltrox. Here’s what it can mean.

What the Story Says

According to Nikon Rumors, in July 2025, China’s Patent Reexamination and Invalidation Department, which is a part of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), issued their decision regarding case 4W121438. The filing title was “Accessories”, and it was held by Nikon Corporation. However, the invalidation request was filed by Shenzhen Jueying Technology Co., Ltd., who are behind the Viltrox brand.

The verdict reveals that the patent rights are “entirely invalid,” and reasoned it as a lack of inventiveness in its solution. Nikon has three months before they receive their decision to appeal to the Beijing Intellectual Property Court. Moreover, until the appeal is resolved, or the appeal window closes, the patent remains in force.

What Happened

The same patent, related to filing ZL202010129174.3, was also central to Nikon’s infringement lawsuit, which was filed earlier against Viltrox and related companies. The case had a hearing on March 2, and was concerning the usage fee for a “temporary protection period” for the said technology. The Chinese media is now framing this ruling as a response by Viltrox to that earlier suit.

At the moment, the invalidated patent ruling is not against the entire Z-mount design. It just covers a lens and the body communicates electronically, and not the physical mount itself. The second patent, which was in the earlier lawsuit, was not a part of the invalidation results.

What It Means

The loss may seem narrow, but for now, the patent that covers how Z-mount lenses communicate with the camera has now lost its legal protection in China. But it’s just that one patent. Nikon’s other Z-mount patents are still standing.

However, for third-party lens makers, especially in China, the result could mean a lot. The Chinese media are reporting that this could help in lowering barriers for Chinese brands like Viltrox, 7Artisans, and others. This means they can create full autofocus Z-mount lenses without running into this specific patent obstacle.

Given that Chinese third-party manufacturers have created something for mirrorless cameras such as Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon RF. Now, with a patent invalidation, one can see a wave of affordable autofocus options for Nikon shooters. This also depends on whether Nikon is willing to appeal, and that other valid patents are not presented as an obstacle.

What Happens Next

Let’s think about this: China is one of the biggest markets for the photo industry. Nikon will want to be very careful here.

It boils down to Nikon. They have 3 months to escalate the matter to the Beijing Intellectual Property Court. Unless the appeal window closes, or it is resolved, the patient’s status will remain in force. This means the real, practical effect on third-party lens development will not be clear for a while.

However, the report was based on tips and was summarized with the help of AI translation of the documents. There are also no real reports from Nikon, Viltrox, or CNIPA cited directly. As a result, it is best that we take this news with a grain of salt. However, if proven true, it would really change the way we buy lenses.