Kodak may sell image patent in Apple lawsuit

Kodak may sell the image previewing patent that is the subject of a US$1 billion infringement lawsuit filed against Apple and RIM. This patent is one of 1,100 patents that Kodak is looking to sell as it tries to raise cash. Analysts estimate these patents may be worth more than $650 million, the market value of the company.

In the past, Kodak has used patents to fund its struggling imaging and printing business. It has licensing agreements with 32 companies including Samsung and LG which have collectively paid Kodak $950 million to use the technology in Kodak's image-preview patents. Kodak was hoping to cash in on the RIM and Apple lawsuit, but this potential influx of cash has stalled. Kodak was handed a setback earlier this year when the ITC delayed its ruling on the Apple/RIM lawsuit until August 31.

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Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311190352020457648…

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Kodak may sell the image previewing patent that is the subject of a US$1 billion infringement lawsuit filed against Apple and RIM....

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maarten

Funny how Apple vs HTC, samsung, .. stories always have thousands of comments blasting those companies for stealing from Apple, not innovating, .. but when Apple is on the other end of the patent stick the silence is deafening.
Patents should just disappear period, they are not helping innovation of small developers as the proponents are claiming.

August 03 2011 at 11:02 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

Michael Long

This is the obvious outcome of Apple and others spending billions on the Nortel patent collection.

Now every company with an aging patent portfolio is going to look at cashing in by selling them off to the highest bidder, who in turn will use them to hamper and harass the competition.

This is NOT how the patent system is supposed to work.

August 02 2011 at 2:47 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down Reply