Textron wins $279 mln verdict in US patent case against Chinese drone maker DJI (updated)

US Aerospace

24/04/2023 18:18

(Adds comment from DJI)
    By Blake Brittain
       April 24 (Reuters) - U.S. aerospace company Textron Inc
 TXT.N  won a $279 million verdict on Friday against Chinese
drone maker DJI Technology, persuading a federal jury in Waco,
Texas that DJI willfully infringed its patents.
    The jury agreed with subsidiary Textron Innovations Inc
after a week-long trial that DJI's drones violate its rights in
two patents related to drone flight control systems.
    A DJI spokesperson said in a statement Monday that the
company "strongly disagrees" with the verdict and will
"vigorously pursue all options" to defend its legal rights.
        "Textron is a military helicopter company. DJI is a
civilian drone company. No commonality exists between the
technologies," the statement said.
  
    Textron said in a statement Monday that it was "grateful"
that its "history of innovation was recognized."
    Providence, Rhode Island-based Textron sued DJI in 2021,
claiming several types of DJI drones with automatic hovering
capabilities work in the same way as its patented technology.
    DJI denied the allegations and argued that the patents were
invalid. 
    The U.S. Department of Defense banned Americans from
investing in DJI and other Chinese companies last October based
on their alleged ties to the Chinese military. DJI said at the
time that it "has never marketed or sold its products for
military use in any country."

 (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington)
 ((blake.brittain@tr.com; +1 (202) 938-5713;))