Bell Seeks Pause of Drone Maker’s Suit Based on Ties to China

Texas helicopter manufacturer Bell Textron Inc. urged a federal judge in Fort Worth to pause dronemaker SZ DJI Technology Co.'s patent suit against it in light of DJI’s purported ties to the Chinese military and inclusion on a US Defense Department black list.

Bell filed a motion to pause the suit, which is in US District Court for the Northern District of Texas, while the US Congress considers a bill—the Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act (H.R. 5475)—which would render patents owned by companies tied to the Chinese Communist Party unenforceable.

DJI’s patents, including those asserted against Bell, would fall ...