Kodak suing Apple and RIM over photo preview patents

Now that suing Apple is practically an Olympic event, Kodak is having a turn. They've filed two actions against Apple and RIM, and a third against Apple only.

The first two claim that Apple and RIM infringe upon Kodak's method of previewing images with the iPhone and Blackberry. The third complaint, pointed at Apple only, addresses processing images at different resolutions. Finally, Apple is also accused of infringements on processes of software programs calling to each other.

What a litigious lot we are. To be fair, Kodak says they're just after fair license terms and don't want any products taken off of the market. We'll watch this story for you.

[Via Engadget]

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Source: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmV…

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Now that suing Apple is practically an Olympic event, Kodak is having a turn. They've filed two actions against Apple and RIM, and a third...

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nycstern

1. Early digital camera did not have preview on the camera.

2. Apple's first digital cameras (the Quicktake models), for example, did not.

3. *Somebody* invented it, it was clearly good, and everybody copied it.

4. Kodak says they have a patent and, given how early they were to the digital camera space, this seems totally believable to me.

5. Assuming the patent is good, Apple and Canon and Nikon and Sony should license it from Kodak. Period.

January 19 2010 at 10:21 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jfnmail

I wrote an email to Kodak letting them know that I wasn't happy with them suing Apple. Seems like whenever a company like Apple starts doing well, everyone wants part of the action.

January 19 2010 at 10:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Leon

"Finally, Apple is also accused of infringements on processes of software programs calling to each other."

Uhh... why is that so vague? Isn't this one of the advantage point of having a multi-tasking operating system?

January 19 2010 at 7:40 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

howie

This seems to be really suspicious. Why wait all this time to sue? The iPhone has been on the market for over two and a half years.

January 19 2010 at 6:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dirk

Those silly squabbles about even sillier patents always remind me of the day to day squabbles seen in large baboon groups.

January 19 2010 at 3:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Todd

What's a Kodak?

January 18 2010 at 8:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

JKT

They patented previewing a digital photo on the camera itself? Isn't that the entire point of digital photography?!?

January 18 2010 at 4:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to JKT's comment

gib

JKT, I thought the same thing.

What about Apple and Blackberry's UI makes them violate the patent? I know the source article mentions other companies have paid royalties to Kodak for this patent, but what does it (and what does it not) cover? Are all devices (cameras, cellphones, etc.) that have preview options in violation of this patent?

January 18 2010 at 5:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply