Kodak Nails Samsung With Patent Suit
Ouch. Kodak's had some troubles of late, but now that the end may be near, they're trying everything they can to stay afloat. Samsung is the latest company to get nailed by passing debris, as Eastman Kodak announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., alleging infringement of certain patents related to Kodak digital imaging technology. Kodak's been on somewhat of a lawsuit streak lately, and taking aim at Samsung is proof that they aren't playing around.
Kodak has licensed its digital imaging patents to more than 30 leading technology companies, including LG, Motorola, and Nokia, with all of the licenses royalty-bearing to Kodak, but of course Samsung isn't on that list (and obviously has no plans to be, yet). We suspect that this will end with Samsung forking out royalty fees to avoid a long, drawn-out court session, but we'll just have to wait and see. Patent licensing seems to be the trick of the trade these days; Microsoft's doing it with pretty much every major Android vendor, and now Kodak's roping in their own. Sigh.
Kodak has licensed its digital imaging patents to more than 30 leading technology companies, including LG, Motorola, and Nokia, with all of the licenses royalty-bearing to Kodak, but of course Samsung isn't on that list (and obviously has no plans to be, yet). We suspect that this will end with Samsung forking out royalty fees to avoid a long, drawn-out court session, but we'll just have to wait and see. Patent licensing seems to be the trick of the trade these days; Microsoft's doing it with pretty much every major Android vendor, and now Kodak's roping in their own. Sigh.
