01

Introduction: U.S. Mainstream Media Turns Spotlight on AR Patent Dispute

As reported by Bloomberg on January 16, 2026, the Chinese AR glasses manufacturer XREAL (formerly known as Nreal) has formally initiated a patent infringement lawsuit in a U.S. court against VITURE and its associated entities. The lawsuit alleges that VITURE has violated XREAL's core optical system technology for AR devices.

Concurrently, The Verge, a prominent U.S. technology news outlet, has also provided in-depth coverage of the matter. Their report highlights that this legal confrontation is not an isolated event. Earlier, in November 2025, a German court had already adjudicated a related patent dispute, ruling that the products in question infringed upon XREAL's European patent and issuing a preliminary injunction that remains in force.

Screenshot of The Verge report. Source: The Verge

Screenshot of Bloomberg report. Source: Bloomberg

02

Legal Turbulence: A Transnational Legal Clash Spanning Munich to Texas

U.S. Legal Arena: Why Opt for the 'Eastern District of Texas'?

On January 16, 2026, XREAL, through its subsidiary Matrixed Reality Technology Co., Ltd., officially filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Eastern District of Texas Court. Source: edtexweblog.com

The selection of this venue is of paramount importance. Within the global intellectual property legal landscape, the Eastern District of Texas Court is widely regarded as a 'haven for patent holders.' Historical data indicates that juries in this jurisdiction have a tradition of favoring patent holders' interests, and the pace of case adjudication (trial speeds) is notably faster compared to other regions in the United States.

Legal experts posit that XREAL's choice of this jurisdiction as the focal point for its legal actions underscores its preparedness for a protracted, high-stakes legal battle. The strategic intent extends beyond merely securing a 'restraining order'; it encompasses a broader goal of upholding a fair and competitive market order and establishing commercial norms that emphasize 'respecting originality and protecting innovation' through judicial channels.

In its complaint, XREAL alleges that VITURE has infringed upon its U.S. Patent No. 11,988,839. The Verge points out that this patent does not pertain to design but rather targets the 'core' of AR glasses—the optical display system. XREAL emphasizes that it has developed a comprehensive technological system spanning from optics to underlying layers and demands that the court orders VITURE to cease its infringing activities.

European Legal Front: The Significant Repercussions of the German Injunction

If the U.S. lawsuit serves as the initial salvo, then the European battlefield has been ablaze for some time.

As early as November 2025, the Munich I Regional Court in Germany rendered a pivotal decision against Eden Future HK Limited, a subsidiary of VITURE, formally issuing a preliminary injunction. During this preliminary hearing, the German court determined that the defendant's products infringed upon its European patent EP3754409B1. Notably, this European patent shares a high degree of technological similarity with the patent involved in the U.S. lawsuit, both focusing on the core optical structure of AR devices.

In light of this injunction, the affected companies are prohibited from marketing, importing, or selling related products within Germany. Although there has been discussion regarding the precise scope of the injunction's impact, the latest legal status confirms that the injunction remains in effect. As a pivotal hub for technology consumption in Europe, this judicial ruling in the German market undoubtedly poses legal hurdles for VITURE's local supply chain布局 (supply chain layout, supply chain arrangement) and channel expansion.

European Patent EP3754409B1. Source: Google

03

Technical Insights: The 'Birdbath' Optical Enigma in the Eyes of Foreign Media

The Verge noted in its related report that the core of the controversy in this lawsuit revolves around the Birdbath optical solution, which is currently the predominant approach for consumer-grade AR glasses (such as the XREAL Air series and VITURE One/Pro series) to achieve high image quality and portability.

Birdbath Optical Solution. Source: XREAL

Controversial Technical Background

The Birdbath solution leverages a combination of Micro-OLED screens and beam splitters to reflect images into the human eye. Although the fundamental principle is publicly known, the ability to eliminate 'ghosting' and safeguard user privacy (prevent light leakage) serves as a litmus test for the engineering prowess of various manufacturers.

Key Aspects of the Involved Patents

According to publicly accessible patent documents (US 11,988,839 and EP3754409B1), XREAL asserts protection rights for the following core technologies:

The first is polarization-based light path management. The patent delineates a structure that integrates polarizers and quarter-wave plates to precisely control the polarization state of light, compelling light to propagate along predetermined paths, thereby filtering out stray light, eliminating ghosting, and enhancing contrast.

The second is privacy and ultra-thin design. This technology also encompasses a compact folded design for the optical engine and prevents light from being transmitted forward through the glasses (i.e., preventing outsiders from viewing the screen content) by employing polarization blocking.

The crux of the lawsuit is that XREAL contends that the underlying optical imaging logic, the technical approach for eliminating ghosting, and the light path folding implementation method in VITURE's products fall within the ambit of its patent protection. This has emerged as the focal point of intense debate between the two parties in U.S. and German courts.

US 11,988,839 Patent. Source: Google

04

Industry Dynamics: Transitioning from 'Wild Growth' to 'Regulated Competition'

Stepping beyond the confines of this singular case, the attention garnered from media outlets like Bloomberg underscores that the AR industry is undergoing a pivotal transformation.

A New Phase in Industry Evolution

Over the past few years, AR glasses have been in an exploratory phase of market development, characterized by relatively ambiguous patent boundaries. With the popularization of concepts like Apple Vision Pro and the growth in shipments of brands such as XREAL and VITURE, the industry has entered a phase of rapid expansion.

The Inevitability of Rights Verification

As the market size expands, technological 'superiority' has supplanted 'availability' as the linchpin of competition. Consumer demands for clarity, absence of ghosting, and privacy protection have underscored the value of underlying optical patents.

Industry analysts generally concur that it is an inevitable trajectory for the tech industry for leading companies to validate technological ownership rights through legal channels. Similar to the patent wars that characterized the early days of smartphones, clear intellectual property boundaries aid in delineating industry entry thresholds and fostering deeper capital investment and technological innovation.

05

Summary and Prospects

In response, Zhu Dianrong, the founder of the XR Research Institute, commented that XREAL's global litigation strategy, spanning from Munich, Germany, to the Eastern District of Texas in the U.S., underscores its resolve to uphold technological barriers.

Zhu Dianrong further remarked, 'In the long term, as foreign media have observed, this legal battle will compel the industry to engage in more profound innovation. To circumvent patent barriers, practitioners may need to expedite the exploration of next-generation optical solutions such as light waveguides, which will ultimately accelerate the evolution of AR technology.'

Links to Related Media Reports:

The Verge, 'Xreal sues Viture over AR glasses patent | The Verge,' https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/862542/xreal-viture-smart-glasses-patent-suits

Bloomberg, 'Xreal Sues Smart Glasses Rival Viture for Patent Infringement in the U.S. - Bloomberg,' https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-15/xreal-sues-smart-glasses-rival-viture-for-patent-infringement-in-the-us

What are your thoughts on the dispute between XREAL and VITURE? Feel free to share your views in the comments section.