Xreal Inc., a leading name in smart glasses innovation from China, has initiated a legal action against Viture Inc. for patent infringement within the United States. The company asserts that its competitor has unjustly benefited from Xreal’s substantial research and investment in the technology sector.
The lawsuit was officially filed on Thursday in a federal court located in eastern Texas. Xreal’s complaint alleges that the San Francisco-based Viture has illicitly incorporated Xreal’s patented inventions into its smart glasses, including models such as the Luma Pro, Luma Ultra, and a premium model named The Beast.
Both Xreal and Viture are producers of augmented reality (AR) glasses designed to connect with devices such as smartphones and laptops, delivering a larger virtual display for watching films or managing productivity tasks. The two brands often share highly similar technical specifications, including display resolution and the field of view—the size of the augmented landscape visible at any time.
This legal confrontation arrives at a crucial juncture for the AR market, especially with Apple Inc. anticipated to launch its products in the category as soon as this year, according to Bloomberg.
Xreal claims ownership of over 800 patents and patent applications globally, including many in the US and Europe, as discussed in a public statement released Thursday. In comparison, Viture reportedly owns approximately 70 or fewer patents and patent applications worldwide, lacking any in the United States or Europe.
“This lawsuit transcends the enforcement of one patent,” Xreal emphasized in its statement. “It aims to halt a recurring violation of intellectual property that threatens the essence of innovation and jeopardizes ongoing technological advancement in our industry.”
Xreal currently possesses a larger segment of the global market in AR eyewear compared to Viture, as per analysis from research firm IDC. However, both companies face significant competition from Meta Platforms Inc., which has achieved considerable success with its Ray-Ban smart glasses line.
At the recent CES technology expo, Xreal showcased a new entry-level pair of glasses along with a co-branded model developed in partnership with Taiwan’s Asustek Computer Inc. The company also announced an extension of its collaboration with Alphabet Inc.’s Google.
Xreal stated that these partnerships, among others, deserve assurance that their co-developed products will not be compromised by infringers looking to exploit their intellectual property or undermined by unauthorized usage.
