Shenzhen, China – – October 08, 2026 -- The High People's Court of Guangdong Province has issued a final, legally binding judgment in favor of Shenzhen Leqi Innovation Co., Ltd., the company behind imaging accessories brand SmallRig, in a design patent infringement case against Shenzhen Neewer Technology Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Xing Ying Da Industry Co., Ltd.
Court dismisses Neewer's appeal and upholds full damages award
The court ruled that the accused side handle products fall within the scope of protection of Leqi Innovation's design patent, dismissing Neewer Technology's appeal and affirming the trial court's judgment in its entirety. The two defendants were ordered to cease manufacturing and selling the infringing side handles, destroy remaining inventory and related promotional materials, bear all court costs, and pay damages to Leqi Innovation. The damages have been paid in full.
Case marks first full-cycle patent enforcement in imaging accessories sector
The dispute is the first patent enforcement action in the imaging accessories industry to proceed through the entire judicial process -- from evidence collection through trial, appeal and enforcement, including full payment of damages. Intellectual property professionals say the judgment, which granted all relief sought by the patent holder, reinforces judicial protection of design patent rights and offers a practical reference for companies pursuing similar infringement claims.
Growth in livestreaming fuels proliferation of copied accessory designs
Rapid growth in short-form video and livestreaming has increased demand for imaging accessories such as camera cages, side handles and cold shoe rails. Alongside that expansion, the market has seen a rise in products that closely resemble established designs, with some sellers copying structural features and making only minor changes to logos or colors before selling at lower prices through Chinese e-commerce channels and marketplaces such as Amazon.
Fragmented supply chains complicate enforcement efforts for rights holders
Tooling, contract manufacturing and online distribution are often handled by separate entities, making it harder for rights holders to trace products to their source and identify responsible parties. Cases involving overseas platforms require additional cross-border notarization procedures, increasing both the time and cost of enforcement.
Leqi Innovation builds multilayered patent strategy since 2013 SmallRig launch
Founded in 2010, Leqi Innovation launched SmallRig in 2013, offering camera and smartphone accessories, lighting and control equipment, power solutions and microphones. The company has pursued patent infringement actions against a range of competing products, prioritizing litigation involving patents covering its core products and technologies. Companies such as DJI and Insta360 have also strengthened their intellectual property strategies in recent years, with leading manufacturers establishing routine procedures for evidence collection and enforcement.
Procedural hurdles and lengthy proceedings remain barriers to IP enforcement
Seeking preservation measures across multiple design patent cases involves significant procedural hurdles, while lengthy court proceedings and parallel actions add to overall enforcement costs. Industry associations and courts are being urged to improve procedures for handling multiple intellectual property cases to reduce these barriers.