![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sony-Didnt-Intentionally-Brick-Third-Party-Lenses-on-the-a7-V-Viltrox-Confirms-800x420.jpg\")
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It was recently reported that Nikon was suing lens maker Viltrox in China over Nikon\u2019s Z-Mount patent. Viltrox has officially broken its silence on the matter, sharing with PetaPixel a lengthy statement about the company\u2019s imminent and long-term plans and its continued belief in the value of diverse lens ecosystems. <\/p>\n
Before getting to Viltrox\u2019s statement, it is worth quickly recapping the situation. The first reports<\/a> that Nikon was suing Viltrox came out of China a few weeks ago, leading to widespread speculation about the nature of the lawsuit and what it might mean for Viltrox\u2019s lenses for Nikon Z mirrorless cameras. <\/p>\n Viltrox confirmed there was a lawsuit in an exchange on Reddit, but has otherwise been quiet, sharing no details about why Nikon is suing it. The leading theory, based on opaque Chinese legal documents, is that the lawsuit centers on Nikon\u2019s patent for the Z mount. <\/p>\n \u201cIn this case, Nikon appears to be claiming that Viltrox used one of its inventions \u2014 probably related to Z-mount autofocus or lens communication \u2014 while the patent was still pending. Now that the patent is granted, Nikon may be seeking royalties for lenses sold during that time. Now that the patent has reportedly been granted, Nikon may be seeking retroactive royalties for Z-mount lenses sold by Viltrox during that provisional period. Put simply, Nikon is alleging that Viltrox sold Z-mount lenses using Nikon\u2019s protected technology before the patent was officially approved, and that payment is now owed for those past sales,\u201d PetaPixel wrote<\/a> earlier this month. <\/p>\n In the event Viltrox did violate the law, potential resolutions include paying owed royalties, negotiating a settlement, or, in the best-case outcome for photographers, Viltrox and Nikon striking an official deal that keeps current and future Viltrox lenses fully operational on Nikon Z mount cameras. <\/p>\n For what it\u2019s worth, Nikon neither confirmed nor denied the lawsuit. <\/p>\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/nikon-z-mount-close-z6-iii-800x774.jpg\")
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