Apple looking to put the final dagger in Kodak's heart

Apple is seeking approval in New York to sue the bankrupt photography pioneer over patent infringement.

Kodak, the storied company, filed for bankruptcy protection last month looking to shred major expenses.

The company released the world's first consumer camera in 1888 and is still looking to sell off some of its patent portfolio and a successful deal would keep the company out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company has 1100 very valuable photography and digital photography patents and internally they value the portfolio at around $2 billion. Despite inventing the digital camera in 1975, the company never capitalized on it, instead sticking to their film business, which has all but disappeared and had already begun shrinking in the 1990s.

Earlier this month, the company announced it would stop making digital cameras in an effort to focus on its more profitable businesses. Into the future, the company will focus only on photo printing and desktop inkjet printers. Unfortunately for the company, Apple's patent complaint is for technologies used in printers, which would effectively kill what is left of the company if Apple was to be victorious.

If the U.S. Bankruptcy Court does approve Apple's request, the company will then file lawsuits seeking injunctions with the ITC and the US District Court.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Feb 2012 15:26

nbfreak2

As if apple dosent have enough money????

15.2.2012 17:59 #1

GryphB

Originally posted by nbfreak2: As if apple dosent have enough money???? They never have enough money, just enough suckers to pay for their products.

15.2.2012 18:57 #2

DVDBack23

Originally posted by nbfreak2: As if apple dosent have enough money???? Apple can buy entire countries :p

AfterDawn News
AfterDawn Guides
AfterDawn Downloads
AfterDawn Hardware Section

15.2.2012 19:18 #3

napkinsterror (unverified)

I am a computer technician business owner and I am pretty much 50/50 on apple versus windows products (if it fits your needs great and if not that is great too) and in the past I would of never minded even purchasing a product but it never met my needs for the price. After reading this headline I decided I am never going to recommend or purchase an apple product for the rest of my life. This is capitalism at its lowest. Common apple, this is one of the most respectable companies who stayed to what they created. They decided not to adapt. Then apple goes and sues them. They created the digital camera and let other people take advantage of it. They just filed for bankruptcy. Apple even thought it may not mean a lot in these times of avarice, you have lost my respect. I am sorry, but not really.

15.2.2012 19:32 #4

plutonash

The article doesn't tell the audience that kodak sued apple prior to this, but that could've been a ploy to get apple interested in its patent portfolio. Kodak might be hoping that apple purchases them and this is a friendly way to do it.

"Cable thief is a victimless crime."

15.2.2012 22:26 #5

TrinUK

Originally posted by plutonash: The article doesn't tell the audience that kodak sued apple prior to this, but that could've been a ploy to get apple interested in its patent portfolio. Kodak might be hoping that apple purchases them and this is a friendly way to do it. Well said! This is not about the money but a cheap shot from Apple to get bargains or Freebies from the guys in the gutter.

Trin - Making Digital Waves

16.2.2012 04:21 #6

nbfreak2

Originally posted by plutonash: The article doesn't tell the audience that kodak sued apple prior to this, but that could've been a ploy to get apple interested in its patent portfolio. Kodak might be hoping that apple purchases them and this is a friendly way to do it. Good point never looked at it that way,thank you for opening my eyes a little more.

16.2.2012 07:54 #7

kabledog

It's funny how most consumers will boycott, name call, and get up in arms over Apple beating a company while it was down, how Apple can afford to purchase countries, etc. Not one peep or a drop in sales over the fact that they have some of the worst working conditions in the world. Why is it that we wont stand for for shady capitalism, but we will except slave labor. Sad sad world.

16.2.2012 11:10 #8

TrinUK

Originally posted by kabledog: It's funny how most consumers will boycott, name call, and get up in arms over Apple beating a company while it was down, how Apple can afford to purchase countries, etc. Not one peep or a drop in sales over the fact that they have some of the worst working conditions in the world. Why is it that we wont stand for for shady capitalism, but we will except slave labor. Sad sad world. But then the question is where would Apple and the other big boys be without slave labor? We dont need iPhones or iPads but we need food and shelter - plenty of resources to achieve this globally but the money is tightly controlled and allocated for the very reason you mentioned.

Trin - Making Digital Waves

16.2.2012 11:16 #9

hearme0

Regardless, Apple would/will not win this.

16.2.2012 12:30 #10

LordRuss

Lawsuits seem to be CrApple's heroin... it's like they can't help themselves. I swear, if I put out a press release tomorrow stating that I have invented a new Left Nostril Inhaler, that glows in the dark & has your state motto on it (George Carlin) CrApple would be be taking bites out of my asshole like a starved lioness in a barrel filled with fattened hamsters (that's all me) claiming they invented the manner in which you stuck the thing in your nose in 12 other design features.

Somebody needs to come along like the guy did back in the 80s & find a crazy insignificant loophole find (think Disney) & patent the color the white color of the iphone & take their ass to the cleaners. Just to shut them the f* up for a couple of years.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

16.2.2012 13:57 #11

voyager

Apple as a fruit someday will get worms and will eat from inside to outside suffering till death.
They are now the Evil Empire.
Hope they broke now

24.2.2012 15:39 #12

AfterDawn: News