Nikon Takes on Viltrox

[Richard CR]

In a rather unexpected twist of events that’s causing a buzz in this community, Nikon has filed a suit against Chinese lens manufacturer Viltrox with the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court. The case, numbered (2025) Hu73 Zhi Min Chu No. 182, involves a royalty dispute over a patent in a period of provisional protection, which essentially […]

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[P-visie]

As I posted in another thread, Viltrox have been making Z-mount lenses since 2021 and have 25 Z-mount lenses on their site. I find it hard to believe that Nikon has only just discovered that Viltrox has been making Z-mount lenses without a license agreement.

 

[EOS 4 Life]

As I posted in another thread, Viltrox have been making Z-mount lenses since 2021 and have 25 Z-mount lenses on their site. I find it hard to believe that Nikon has only just discovered that Viltrox has been making Z-mount lenses without a license agreement.

They are asking for royalties going back to the date.
Nikon wants to be awarded money.
They do not want Viltrox to cease and desist.
If they win, they will get royalties going back to any date within the statute of limitations.
I doubt it started out with a lawsuit.
I am willing to be that Nikon notified Viltrox a lot earlier.
The thing that shocks me is that Nikon is suing Viltrox in China.
Although, losing there won't mean they can't sue everywhere else.

 

[Richard CR]

They are asking for royalties going back to the date.
Nikon wants to be awarded money.
They do not want Viltrox to cease and desist.
If they win, they will get royalties going back to any date within the statute of limitations.
I doubt it started out with a lawsuit.
I am willing to be that Nikon notified Viltrox a lot earlier.
The thing that shocks me is that Nikon is suing Viltrox in China.
Although, losing there won't mean they can't sue everywhere else.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that China has strengthened its legal frameworks for patent infringements - after they started to write far more than anyone else

coincidence i'm sure

 

[mimbu]

As I posted in another thread, Viltrox have been making Z-mount lenses since 2021 and have 25 Z-mount lenses on their site. I find it hard to believe that Nikon has only just discovered that Viltrox has been making Z-mount lenses without a license agreement.

Nikon wants to get paid, but there's no guarantee the two companies will work out a license agreement afterwards. Viltrox may not be willing to pay what Nikon wants on an ongoing basis, or Nikon may want too much control over what Viltrox releases onto Z mount.

I bet that Nikon will go after other Chinese makers next, including makers of the popular E to Z mount adapters that Nikon owners often use to get around the lack of Sigma glass and complete lack of some focal lengths.

It's all anti-consumer, and I hope that eventually a complaint ends up being filed in the EU. They're the only pro-consumer major governing body and could force Canon, Sony, and Nikon into offering much more openness on their mounts. Yes, I include Sony in that because while Sony does allow almost any 3rd party glass, there are restrictions like the 15fps limit and no focus breathing compensation.

 

[Uneternal]

It seems Nikon goes the Canon route.
And that makes absolute sense from a manufacturer's viewpoint. While Sony offers lots of lens options, they probably make millions and billions of losses with their basically open mount. Licensing fees are one way to mitigate this damage. So, Nikon is absolutely right to go after manufacturers who aren't paying up.