Setback to Kodak

In a patent suit involving Kodak on one hand and Apple and RIM on the other,  Kodak has faced setback, when the patent controversy regarding digital image previews was decided against it. The patent described a system for previewing images on digital cameras and was considered as one of the most valuable one in Kodak's portfolio.

When it began?

It was in January 2010, when Kodak filed a suit and thereby made an attempt in obtaining licensing fees from RIM and Apple for using technology, which according to it was relating to the way digital images are previewed on a screen. According to Kodak, the same technology was patented by it. Kodak was seeking over $1 billion from Apple alone. 

Decision given. 

The International Trade Commission (ITC), in consensus with a judge’s ruling ruled that neither Apple nor RIM has violated Kodak’s patent for digital image preview inviting an injunction to prevent imports of defendants products to the market

Consequences ahead. 

This decision can be a grave setback to the Plaintiff as it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. It had the hope of selling its patents in order to revive the company. Now without the image previewing patents the value of its patent portfolio could fall significantly giving more trouble to already bankrupted company.

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