Eastman Kodak Co., the camera company, said it has filed patent-infringement claims Thursday against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), RIM (NASDAQ:RIMM) charging those companies with violating patents related to digital camera and digital imaging technologies.
The Kodak complaint, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), specifically claims that Apple’s iPhones and RIMM’s camera-enabled BlackBerry devices infringe a Kodak patent that covers technology related to a method for previewing images.
“Kodak has a long history of digital imaging innovation and we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our industry-leading patent portfolio,” said Laura G. Quatela, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “In the case of Apple and RIM, we’ve had discussions for years with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue amicably, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement. 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.
In the complaint against Apple and RIM, Kodak is seeking from the ITC a limited exclusion order preventing the importation of infringing devices, including certain mobile telephones and wireless communication devices featuring digital cameras.
Kodak notes that it has licensed digital imaging technology to about 30 companies, including LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, all of which pay royalties to Kodak.