Kodak wins latest round in patent dispute with Apple, RIM
26 Mar 2011
Eastman Kodak Co has won the latest round in its patent dispute with Apple Inc and Research In Motion Ltd, which could open up the possibility to earn licensing revenue of over $1 billion for the camera company.
The company' stock spurted as much as 25 per cent in late trading with the US International Trade Commission saying it would review a judge's findings that Apple's iPhone and RIM's BlackBerry do not violate Kodak's patent.
The patent covers a way to preview digital images using less processing power and storage space. The International Trade Commission, that bars entry into the US of products that violate US patents, plans to make a final settlement on the matter by 23 May.
According to Kodak chairman and chief executive officer Antonio Perez the 131-year-old company could be in a position to win $1 billion from Apple and RIM in the event the case was decided in its favour.
He quoted the figure on the basis of the combined $964 million received from settlements with Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Inc over the same patent.
The patent applies to a feature that allows previews of low-resolution versions of a moving image as it records still images at a high resolution. Higher resolution calls for additional processing power and storage space.
