Kodak announced earlier today that it has filed a lawsuit with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) against both Apple and RIM for patent infringement relating to proprietary digital imaging technology.
Kodak announced earlier today that it has filed a lawsuit with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) against both Apple and RIM for patent infringement relating to proprietary digital imaging technology. Specifically, Kodak claims that the iPhone and camera equipped BlackBerrys both use patented Kodak technology for previewing images and processing images at varying resolutions.
And in a separate lawsuit filed in the Western District of New York, Kodak alleges that Apple’s iPhone also infringes on Kodak technology pertaining to “certain computer processes”, such as when one application asks another application for assistance to carry out specific functions.
Interestingly, Kodak VP and Chief Intellectual Property Officer Laura G Quatela noted that Kodak has been in talks with RIM and Apple for years in an effort to resolve the aforementioned patent dispute in an amicable and fair manner.
“We have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement,” Quatela stated, “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.”
Kodak’s suit against Apple is just the latest in a growing number of iPhone related patent disputes. Remember that Apple is currently battling with Nokia over a laundry list of patents, with Nokia going so far as to request a judgment which would prevent the import of essentially all Apple products. Kodak, however, isn’t planning to take such drastic measures, and simply wants fair compensation for licensing agreements it feels should have been entered into years ago.
“Our primary interest is not to disrupt the availability of any product but to obtain fair compensation for the use of our technology,” Quatela noted, “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.”
Kodak ultimately wants to avoid litigation and hopes to negotiate a fair licensing agreement with both Apple and RIM. “But when the infringement is persistent,” Quatela stated, “we will act to defend the interests of our shareholders and licensees, and to promote the fair compensation that is the bedrock of innovation.”
