Kodak files patent infringements

The Kodak complaint, filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), specifically claims that Apple’s iPhones and RIM’s camera-enabled BlackBerry devices infringe a Kodak patent that covers technology related to a method for previewing images.

Separately, Kodak filed two suits against Apple in US District Court for the Western District of New York that claim the infringement of patents related to digital cameras and certain computer processes.

‘Kodak has invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our patent portfolio,’ said Laura Quatela, chief intellectual property officer and vice-president, Eastman Kodak. ‘In the case of Apple and RIM, we’ve had discussions for years with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue amicably, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement. In light of that, we are taking this action to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and the existing licensees of our technology.

‘Our primary interest is not to disrupt the availability of any product but to obtain fair compensation for the use of our technology,’ added Quatela. ‘There’s a basic issue of fairness that needs to be addressed. Those devices use Kodak technology and we are merely seeking compensation for the use of our technology in their products.’