ITC rules in favor of Kodak in Apple patent suit
The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled on Monday that Kodak did not infringe on Apple's patents, upholding an ITC judge's decision from May.
Apple lodged its complaint with the ITC in April last year as a countersuit to a suit filed by Kodak. The Cupertino, Calif., iPhone maker had alleged that Kodak violated digital imaging software patents with its digital cameras.
In May, a judge for the federal agency sided with Kodak, finding one of Apple's patents invalid and ruling that the struggling photographic company had not infringed on either patent. As reported by Reuters, Monday's decision upholds the ruling, although the companies have ongoing legal disputes in district courts.
"We are pleased that the commission has confirmed the [administrative law judge's] finding that there is no violation by Kodak," said Kodak spokesman David Lanzillo.
After falling 8.03 percent to $2.52 on Monday, shares of Kodak regained some lost ground in after-hours trading. The company's stock has been in free fall, losing more than 50 percent of its value since the beginning of the year.
Investors are likely to more heavily anticipate Kodak's suit against Apple, as the company has said a settlement could bring in as much as $1 billion in royalty revenue.
Kodak first filed its complaint against Apple last January, saying that years of discussions with the company over patent licensing had broken down. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion was also included on the suit.
Earlier this year, Kodak's case against the two companies was found to be invalid by an ITC judge because the patent in question was an "obvious variation of an earlier invention." After reviewing the case, the full commission issued a mixed ruling, upholding some of the judge's decision, while also finding Apple and RIM guilty of infringing on several smaller patents and sending parts of the ruling back to an administrative law judge.
Kodak has previously enforced the patent against Samsung and LG, receiving $950 million in royalties from the two companies. As profits from the camera film market have dried up, the company has resorted to licensing fees from its well-stocked patent portfolio for revenue. According to the report, the company expects to see $250 million to $350 million in licensing revenue each year through 2013.
For its part, Apple is actively seeking lawyers for its litigation team to handle a growing number of patent infringement suits.
Apple lodged its complaint with the ITC in April last year as a countersuit to a suit filed by Kodak. The Cupertino, Calif., iPhone maker had alleged that Kodak violated digital imaging software patents with its digital cameras.
In May, a judge for the federal agency sided with Kodak, finding one of Apple's patents invalid and ruling that the struggling photographic company had not infringed on either patent. As reported by Reuters, Monday's decision upholds the ruling, although the companies have ongoing legal disputes in district courts.
"We are pleased that the commission has confirmed the [administrative law judge's] finding that there is no violation by Kodak," said Kodak spokesman David Lanzillo.
After falling 8.03 percent to $2.52 on Monday, shares of Kodak regained some lost ground in after-hours trading. The company's stock has been in free fall, losing more than 50 percent of its value since the beginning of the year.
Investors are likely to more heavily anticipate Kodak's suit against Apple, as the company has said a settlement could bring in as much as $1 billion in royalty revenue.
Kodak first filed its complaint against Apple last January, saying that years of discussions with the company over patent licensing had broken down. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion was also included on the suit.
Earlier this year, Kodak's case against the two companies was found to be invalid by an ITC judge because the patent in question was an "obvious variation of an earlier invention." After reviewing the case, the full commission issued a mixed ruling, upholding some of the judge's decision, while also finding Apple and RIM guilty of infringing on several smaller patents and sending parts of the ruling back to an administrative law judge.
Kodak has previously enforced the patent against Samsung and LG, receiving $950 million in royalties from the two companies. As profits from the camera film market have dried up, the company has resorted to licensing fees from its well-stocked patent portfolio for revenue. According to the report, the company expects to see $250 million to $350 million in licensing revenue each year through 2013.
For its part, Apple is actively seeking lawyers for its litigation team to handle a growing number of patent infringement suits.
Comments
Ooops, sorry. There's a decimal point missing in the article.
$262 per share?? What are they complaining about? That's a $67.78B market cap. Farrrrr from the need of going bankrupt.
Ooops, sorry. There's a decimal point missing in the article.
It would seem cheaper for Apple to just buy Kodak.
It would seem cheaper for Apple to just buy Kodak.
Then we could have 'Apple Moments'
http://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:EK
Even with their debt, the licensing royalties alone could pay it down.
EK's stock price 10 years ago was around $46. It's now at $2.52. After hours has it up to $2.65.
After EK files to auction off their Patents Apple could buy them as part of a group.
It would seem cheaper for Apple to just buy Kodak.
Give it time....
Kodak will never sell themselves to Apple. That would be like an Orange buying a Banana. No point.
That makes no sense, Kodak is clearly a Lemon.
Kodak will never sell themselves to Apple. That would be like an Orange buying a Banana. No point.
they could do a hostel take over and purchase the company out from under itself
Kodak will never sell themselves to Apple. That would be like an Orange buying a Banana. No point.
Eastman Kodak will soon face Chapter 11 or start courting companies for a buyout, or the dreaded Auction block.
It would seem cheaper for Apple to just buy Kodak.
Exactly. Why the heck are they not doing it? I am sure there is some valuable patent technology that Kodak owns that would make it worthwhile.
they could do a hostel take over and purchase the company out from under itself
You can be sure Apple has looked into it, but hostile takeovers are usually messy, distracting and expensive.
they could do a hostel take over and purchase the company out from under itself
Why, are they all backpacking?
Apple the Monsanto of the tech world.
Please stop saying this. You look like an absolute fool.
If Kodak's patent portfolio is good enough I could see Apple buying them.
As that's the only reason Apple would buy them, it won't ever happen.