Kodak Sues Apple To Defend Patents

The Eastman Kodak Company filed a lawsuit today against Apple Inc., claiming that Apple has tried to “delay and derail” its efforts to sell a collection of patents as part of its bankruptcy reconstructing plans.

Bloomberg reports that Kodak is suing Apple over the ownership of 10 patents related to digital imaging. Kodak is planning to auction off those patents this August.

Kodak said:

“Apple’s strategy has been to use its substantial cash position to delay as long as possible the payment of royalties to Kodak…. Apple and FlashPoint are seeking to benefit from Kodak’s difficult financial position, which will be exacerbated if the debtors cannot obtain fair value for the patents.”

Kodak says that it has more than 700 patents in its digital-capture portfolio. Kodak has generated more than $3 billion in revenue since 2001 from those patents. According to Reuters, Kodak is claiming that Apple is the largest infringer on its patents, as well as a potential buyer when those patents go up for sale.

Apple claims that Kodak is trying to use its dire financial situation to get away with stealing the patents. Apple said that Kodak is using its financial troubles to try to “ramrod through a procedurally flawed and substantively meritless motion.”

Kodak is expected to auction off the patents this August.