Kodak to Survey Its Patent Options

After winning a key patent case against Apple Inc., Eastman Kodak Co. is exploring potential new strategies for its portfolios of digital imaging patents, including licensing of some and the outright sale of others.

In May 2010, Cupertino, Calif.–based Apple filed a complaint against Kodak, asserting that the imaging competitor was importing, selling and distributing cameras based on patents (6,031,964 and RE 38,911) regarding memory storage held by Apple.

On May 12, 2011, the presiding administrative law judge overseeing the complaint ruled that there had been no such violation of Apple’s patents, and on July 18, the US International Trade Commission announced that it would not review the judge’s determination.

Kodak’s portfolios include more than 1,100 US patents pertaining to capturing, processing, storing, organizing, editing, and sharing digital images, as well as imaging monetization applications, which are fundamental to the digital imaging industry. Those patents represent approximately 10 percent of the company’s total US patent portfolio.

Kodak has retained Lazard LLC to provide advice on its patent portfolio, and the company will continue in the meanwhile to pursue its patent licensing program as well as all litigation related to its digital imaging technology.

“Given recent trends in the marketplace for intellectual property, we believe the time is right to explore smart, opportunistic alternatives for our digital imaging patent portfolios,” said Laura G. Quatela, Kodak’s general counsel and a senior vice president of the company. "This effort reaffirms our commitment to the three pillars of our intellectual property strategy: design freedom, access to new markets and partnerships, and cash generation."

For more information, visit: www.kodak.com