Kodak files patent infringement suits against Apple, HTC

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After announcing that it has set its sights on transforming into a digital company, Kodak has filed patent infringement suits against Apple and HTC in an effort to protect some of its patents relating to digital imaging technology.

In a complaint filed with the International Trade Commission, Kodak said that Apple iPhones, iPads and iPods, along with HTC smartphones and tablets "infringe Kodak patents that relate to technology for transmitting images." The company also said that HTC smartphones infringe a Kodak patent that pertains to technology related to a method for previewing images, which already is the subject of pending actions against Apple.

Kodak filed separate suits against Apple and HTC in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York alleging the same infringement. The U.S. patents involved include Nos. 7,210,161; 7,742,084; 7,453,605 and 7,936,391.

"As we have stated before, Kodak is the leader in digital imaging innovation and we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our pioneering patent portfolio," said Laura Quatela, Kodak's newly appointed president and COO. "We've had numerous discussions with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement.

"Our primary interest is not to disrupt the availability of any product but to obtain fair compensation for the unauthorized use of our technology," Quatela said. "There’s a basic issue of fairness that needs to be addressed. The failure of companies to appropriately compensate Kodak for the unauthorized use of our patented technology impedes our ability to continue to innovate and introduce new products."

Kodak has licensed patents related to digital imaging technology to more than 30 companies, including LG, Motorola, Samsung and Nokia, all of which are royalty bearing to Kodak.