AfterDawn: News

Apple countersues Kodak over patent suit

In January, Eastman Kodak said it was suing RIM and Apple over patent violations relating to the cameras used in BlackBerrys and the iPhone.

Today, Apple countersued Kodak, accusing the film pioneer of violating two digital photography patents that Apple owns.



Apple has accused EK of violating patents 6,031,964 and RE38,911, which are "a system and method for using a unified memory architecture to implement a digital camera device," and a "modular digital image processing via an image processing chain with modifiable parameter controls."

Adds Kodak: "As regards our intellectual property, Kodak has a long history of digital imaging innovation and we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our industry-leading patent portfolio. We have an obligation to our shareholders and the other licensees to protect their interests. When others use our technology, we merely seek fair compensation for that use, in the same way that many other leading technology companies pay us to license Kodak technology."

Kodak currently has 1100 patents relating to digital photography technologies and licenses them to over 30 companies.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Apr 2010 18:46

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• 6 comments

• beanos66

  in about 3 years their will be a settlement, Apple press release will state they are very happy with the outcome and look forward to working with Kodak. Kodak press release will say they are very happy with the outcome and look forward to working with Apple.
  
  and the only winners will be the lawyers

  21.4.2010 19:27 #1

• luckyo

  This is indeed typical. Companies weigh their portfolios against each other and the weaker one pays a negotiated sum.
  
  It's not that different from the nokia-apple lawsuit.

  21.4.2010 19:32 #2

• KillerBug

  Amazing...2 patents that go back to the first B&W digital camera that was like 1/8 mp and held only a few images...even though the process for doing both things has changed to the point that they have new patents for the new processes.

  21.4.2010 23:19 #3

• Mr-Movies

  These kinds of patents shouldn't even exist let alone be enforced 9 years later. It goes to show that almost anything can be patent.

  22.4.2010 15:30 #4

• pc_engine

  It seems that every week Apple is suing someone different. It's pretty pathetic and really shows what kind of company Apple Inc. really is.
  

  22.4.2010 17:13 #5

• s_c47

  Raise your hand if you have not been sued by Apple.
  

  Someone told me once that theres a right and wrong, and that punishment would come to those
  who dare to cross the line.
  But it must not be true for jerk-offs like you.
  Maybe it takes longer to catch a total a__hole.

  23.4.2010 03:43 #6