Kodak, Samsung to settle patent disputes; enter into technology cross license
12 Jan 2010
Photagrphic imaging pioneer Eastman Kodak and Korean diversified giant Samsung have decided to call of their patent infringement proceedings before the US International Trade Commission, and to settle their 14-month-old patent-infringement dispute patent infringement lawsuits in the US and German courts.
Kodak yesterday entered into a technology cross license with Samsung Electronics that will allow each company access to the other's patented digital-imaging patents portfolio.
The license agreement, which provides significant benefits to both companies, is royalty bearing to Kodak and will terminate the ongoing disagreement and patent-infringement lawsuit between them.
In November 2008 Kodak filed a lawsuit alleging that Korean electronics giants Samsung and LG Electronics imported camera phones that infringed on various Kodak patents that it had obtained between 1993 and 2001.
Samsung filed a counter suit in February 2009 with the Trade Commission, alleging that some Kodak digital cameras infringed on its technology.
Kodak and LG settled the suit in December 2009, agreeing on a similar licensing deal.