Kodak, the camera manufacturer we all know and love, is opening up both barrels of legal shotgunnery on LG and Samsung for the camera modules and software they use in their phones. Supposedly the patent in question deals with “image capture, compression and data storage and a method for previewing motion images”. This litigation comes shortly after Samsung being nailed for infringing on flash memory patents, so they’re going to have their hands full over the next couple of months on the legal front. LG has had better luck on the patent front, having gone on the offensive on Quanta Computers and winning their case last summer. Whether or not they can play the defensive just as well will be seen. As for Kodak, they say they’ve been plenty patient with the issue.
“Kodak has a long history of innovation and we have invested many millions of dollars developing our digital camera technology,” said Laura G. Quatela, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “We’ve held discussions with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue and have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement. Consequently, we must take this legal action in order to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and existing licensees of Kodak digital camera patents.”