Nikon-Viltrox Lawsuit Update

credits: NIkon

Nikon has now commented publicly for the first time on the reported lawsuit against Viltrox, following a lot of speculation. A few days ago, reports surfaced that Nikon had filed a legal case in China over alleged patent infringements related to Viltrox Z-mount products, including unpaid licensing fees. While early talk suggested the dispute mainly centres on Viltrox’s 2× Z-mount teleconverter, some sources have hinted that Z-mount lenses could also be caught up in the issue.

In a short statement, Nikon did not directly confirm or deny the lawsuit, but the wording is telling. “Nikon has always worked with officially licensed partner companies to expand the Z-mount ecosystem,” the company said, adding that it supports third-party lenses that are properly licensed. Nikon repeats the idea of licensing more than once, which many see as a not-so-subtle signal that Viltrox is not considered one of those partners.

At the same time, rumours continue to circulate that this may not be an isolated case. Japanese site Asobinet and Chinese social media sources claim the Z-mount 2× teleconverter could be the flashpoint, especially since it launched first for Sony E-mount and later appeared in a Z-mount version. There are also reports that Nikon has contacted other third-party Z-mount lens makers with cease-and-desist warnings, though no additional lawsuits have been confirmed so far. The key date to watch is March 2, 2026, when the Viltrox case is to be heard. Whether this ends in a market ban, a licensing deal, or some other settlement is still very much up in the air.