Kodak Lawsuit Aims at Phones With Cameras

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Eastman Kodak Co., a 128-year-old photography company, filed a U.S. trade complaint against Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics seeking to ban imports of mobile phones that have digital cameras.

Kodak, based in Rochester, N.Y., filed the complaint Monday with the U.S. International Trade Commission. Kodak also filed two patent-infringement lawsuits against the companies in federal court in Rochester, seeking cash and an order that would stop use of its patented inventions.

Kodak said it's had a "series of communications" with Samsung and LG beginning in 2004, according to the lawsuit. The patents relate to ways to capture, compress and store digital images, and a way to preview motion images, Kodak said.

"Kodak has a long history of innovation and we have invested many millions of dollars developing our digital camera technology," Laura Quatela, Kodak's chief intellectual property officer, said in a statement. "We must take this legal action in order to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and existing licensees of Kodak digital camera patents."

The ITC, if it agrees to investigate the case, could block imports of any products made by Seoul-based LG and Suwon, Korea-based Samsung that are found to violate Kodak patents. The civil suit is likely to be put on hold while the ITC conducts its investigation.

Samsung and LG representatives didn't immediately return messages seeking comment.

Kodak is eliminating jobs and forecasting a third-straight annual sales decline.

News source: Houston Chronicle

(2 replies) #1 Spark99 on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:51

Here we go again...

Deperate Companies who saw their industries in jeapordy and did absolutely nothing to prepare for the future.

Yeah, let's keep the Lawyers busy !!!
(sarcasm intended)

#1.1 ThaCrip on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:59

+1 , that about sums it up.

people sue for basically anything nowadays... regardless if they have a legitamate point or not.

#1.2 markjensen on 18 Nov 2008 - 23:02

-1

Spark99 just assumed that there is no basis for the lawsuit and posted. Knee-jerk reaction to an article about an infringement lawsuit. Some critical thinking before posting would be beneficial.

#2 markjensen on 18 Nov 2008 - 22:52

Well, if LG and Samsung are using patented Kodak compression without proper licensing agreements, then Kodak has a point.

It's just unclear from this whether they are or are not infringing on Kodak patents.

(1 reply) #3 Atlonite on 19 Nov 2008 - 04:38

and why wait 4yrs befor bringing a lawsuit you order a cease and desist and if its ignored you start legal procedings asap not wait 4 yr's so yo can cash in on all of the phones these two companies have made in that time

#3.1 +DrunkenMaster on 19 Nov 2008 - 05:30

Because they tried to Settle out of court. One it wins some Brownie points witht the judge and for that matter Shareholders. Second, if they did bring in court in 2004 - there would be a $20 million + laywer fees and would drag on for 5 or 6 years. Saves time, money and energy.

(2 replies) #4 Airlink on 19 Nov 2008 - 07:57

Real reason Kodak is suing: With a camera in every phone, nobody will need to buy Kodak cameras anymore!

#4.1 IceBreakerG on 19 Nov 2008 - 14:36

I didn't know people still bought Kodak cameras now. When I worked retail back in 1999-2002, Kodak had some pretty decent cameras, but they were far from the best. They actually had better photo printers than cameras. Their cameras always felt kind of "cheap" like a fisher price toy, not something you'd want to use on a regular basis. Since I left retail, I haven't seen anyone with a Kodak digital camera, and rarely, if ever, hear them mentioned.

#4.2 markjensen on 19 Nov 2008 - 14:41

Airlink said,

Ummm... Wouldn't they be suing every manufacturer, instead of just the two that are infringing on a Kodak patent?

really. Read the article. Form an opinion based on critical thought of the entirety - not just the title.

(1 reply) #5 ChrisJ1968 on 22 Nov 2008 - 16:00

Kodak is eliminating jobs and forecasting a third-straight annual sales decline.

this is the REAL reason for the lawsuit...sums it up for me.

#5.1 Zero Nova on 23 Nov 2008 - 18:28

Like the article says, they've spent millions of dollars developing and patenting digital camera technology. If a company noticed that other corporations were violating their patents and making hundreds of millions of dollars off of your own technology, they would have to be stupid not to file a complaint. Besides, they tried to settle this out of court and it didn't work out. Seems to me these foreign based companies are not willing to cooperate.

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