Apple Turns Attention to Bankrupt Kodak as Relentless Patent Litigation Continues
Apple Turns Attention to Bankrupt Kodak as Relentless Patent Litigation Continues
Posted 02/15/2012 at 11:29am
| by Paul Lilly
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When it rains, it pours, and as if Kodak didn't have enough to worry about already as it ditches the camera business and tries to figure out how to pay back movie studios millions of dollars it owes in unpaid rebates, all while declaring bankruptcy, Apple has decided it wants to dump a patent infringement suit to the company's pile of problems.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple believes Kodak is infringing on a number of patents that relate to various technologies used in printers, digital cameras, and digital picture frames. Apple, which doesn't need to seek permission from a bankruptcy judge to sue Kodak over patent claims, took the step precautionary of announcing its intentions in a court filing yesterday.
"Apple requests express authority from this court before it initiates the actions out of an abundance of caution," Apple's lawyers wrote in the filing, according to Bloomberg.
This has been an ongoing thing between Apple, Kodak, and Research In Motion (RIM). It dates back to 2010 when Kodak sued Apple and RIM for allegedly infringing patents relating to technologies found in smartphone cameras. The issue was never fully settled, and Apple later fired back with a lawsuit of its own saying it was the rightful owner of an image-preview patent that's at the heart of all this.
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csiegle56
March 02, 2012 at 6:52pm
Kind of funny since apple makes over 20 bucks a pop on calendars every year made on a digital Kodak nexpress.
Vlad from Kharkov
February 22, 2012 at 9:11am
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livebriand
February 15, 2012 at 10:17pm
I was thinking about buying an ipod touch, but I have just made up my mind NOT to do it. This, AND their blackmailing asus over the zenbook looking like an mba, and their rentless lawsuits and bullshit against other companies like Samsung... Apple, I want you to just fucking die.
Engelsstaub
February 15, 2012 at 8:36pm
Hey did you guys know that VLC, that media player many tech geeks know and love, just dropped a MAJOR update by way of Release Candidate? I've been trying it out and it looks really badass.
You won't hear that from this "tech site." Try Tested.com where the former editors/staff, who aren't douche-nozzles, are now.
All you're going to get here is click-whoring story titles, op-ed vaguely disguised as report, and Law & Order: Big Corporation Unit. These "experts" on the legal process will keep feeding causeless children of all ages with stories about how they too should give a shit about who Apple sues.
*Not only is this shit IMPORTANT but it affects your ability to have and maintain a "maximum PC." Really*
riopato
February 16, 2012 at 7:14pm
Its good to know that maximum PC isn't mac biased unlike tech sites like tested.com.
Engelsstaub
February 16, 2012 at 8:42pm
I know Gary is admittedly Mac-biased...but everyone else there will tell you when they think Apple's shit is starting to stink. Myself included. You should see my bug reports and general complaints to Apple.
My problem with MPC is the childish obsession with Apple that has nothing to do with anything PC. You know exactly who it comes from...because some of the writers here are over on Tested too. If I hated Apple so much I wouldn't really give a rat's ass what they do as long as it doesn't affect me. ...but that's just me and about three other people who comment here. It seems the rest want to rage about stupid irrelevant crap.
Wanna hear my latest rage to Apple? I've now bought two iPod Touches (both 64 Gb/ 400 US dollars each) in the past two years. Both of them suck ass with iOS 5. It runs fine on the iPhone but Apple apparently doesn't care that their new OS has too much overhead requirements for hardware that they CURRENTLY sell. Go ahead: try using Coverflow on a brand spanking new iPod Touch with iOS 5. It crashes and takes you back to the homescreen every time.
See, I'm an asshole too. The only difference is I don't get a paycheck or a byline for it.
Engelsstaub
February 17, 2012 at 8:59pm
lol one for me and one for my daughter. lolz. (Or else it would have been one retina display per eyeball.)
acidic
February 16, 2012 at 1:01pm
sounds like someone is all ass hurt again over his beloved apple inc and all the negative press and views of them. the staff of this site and myself have told you time and time again, if you dont like the site, dont come here. seems like your apple hipster higher education isnt paying off as you cant comprehend that. apple's "rule" is about to be over although it really isnt a matter of if but when and we all know its gonna be soon. hopefully you can get someone to pay attention to you over your apple obsesion over at your new favor site. have a great day
Engelsstaub
February 16, 2012 at 1:59pm
I am having a great day. You've been around here long enough to know that "don't come here" isn't going to happen. When you start ignoring my comments, and/or properly conjugating sentences in your native language, I'll agree to go away.
Until then my points remain. Comment on stuff other than Apple crap and I may also consider it. Otherwise I'd like to be here two years from now to remind you that, like my "hipster/redneck" self (as you can't seem to make up your mind about how to properly insult someone you don't even know,) Apple isn't going anywhere either. I saw your prophecies in that other story....Causless Child; Exhibit A. :D
jtrpop
February 15, 2012 at 5:59pm
Apple has always done coy & evil tactics, much more so than the so called "evil" Microsoft.
yammerpickle2
February 15, 2012 at 3:25pm
I guess Apple's next conquest will be taking over RAMBUS to increase their patent holdings.
alabasterdragon
February 15, 2012 at 2:00pm
Drew7
If you used an apple product to make that posting, Apple will actually have legal standing to sue you and take your Apple product away from you. It's all in the EULA that you likely didn't read at all before accepting it. If you used one of their products to make the posting, it could fall under the clause regarding the user doing anything that Apple does not expressly approve of. As I recall I Apply does have a track record of reclaiming products from customers who bad mouthed Apple via their Mac on a Apple forum.
Add people think Apple is this big happy go luck "hippy" company that is all love and peace. By their legal track record, they make Microsoft look like a hippy.
BTW This was posted from a PC. I do NOT own any Apple Corp products. I never have, and hopefully never will! At least baring their acquisition of companies of products I do own.
dubcek
February 15, 2012 at 1:55pm
I thought it was Jobs who was behind all this, isn't he the one who said he was prepared to use all Apple's resources and go Thermo-Nuclear war over android, so this is just Apple continuing his work.
It seems that most of the patents granted are so vague as to be worthless.
I'm still waiting for Apple to sue everyone for copyright infringement because everyone packages their products in cardboard boxes and everyone knows that Apple patented the idea of a cardboard box and every and all possible uses cardboard could be put to.
When the big quake hits maybe Apple will go with it.
gmvolk
February 15, 2012 at 2:37pm
No it won't be for cardboard boxes. First, they will sue all the phone makers because apple holds the patents for the numbers 0-9 and the letters that correspond to each number. After that, they will sue everyone for the cardboard boxes!
riopato
February 16, 2012 at 2:13pm
Microsoft was hardly as bad as apple has always been. MS was sneaky and they succeeded in undermining their competitors but I never saw MS kick the losing company while they're down by means of suing them. Most of the MS just buys these companies or compete in a way that forces the other company out.
Apple's idea of winning is sue sue sue!
Scatter
February 15, 2012 at 2:01pm
Don't blame apple for playing by the rules. If they legitimately own patents and Kodak infringed on them then why shouldn't Apple take legal action?
I bet if you owned the patents in question you wouldn't just ignore it if a competitor stole them.
RUSENSITIVESWEETNESS
February 15, 2012 at 2:18pm
Apple stole from Xerox to get off the ground. Microsoft stole from Apple to get off the ground.
Me, I just hope they all die.
Drew7
February 15, 2012 at 12:28pm
I've been reading the articles in MaximumPC as of late, and APPLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED. Look at you all NOW; As soon as Steve Jobs dies, it's like the "Hounds Of Hell" have been let loose! SUING COMPANIES LEFT AND RIGHT, TRYING TO STOP OTHERS FROM CREATING INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS WITH PETTY INFRINGEMENT SUITS, AND NOW... YOU GUYS ARE GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE AS CHINA IS TRYING TO KILL THE iPAD. Well.... G-O-O-D. YOU DESERVE IT. Steve Jobs died leaving behind an AWESOME COMPANY. And now whatever JACK-A** is running the place is DESTROYING AN EMPIRE A GREAT MAN BUILT. You guys are not only F*CKED, but your F*CKING YOURSELVES. Wouldn't be surprised if you SUED ME NEXT. A**holes. ~D.
Scatter
February 15, 2012 at 2:02pm
If Apple isn't allowed to defend their patents then you may as well just throw out the entire patent system.
bling581
February 16, 2012 at 10:43am
"If Apple isn't allowed to defend their patents then you may as well just throw out the entire patent system."
I wish they would, it would be a good thing. It needs to be revamped and replaced with one that makes sense and doesn't encourage patent trolling. It's ridiculous the type of things that companies can be allowed to patent today. Things like how you unlock your phone, via swipe the screen, draw a pattern, type a password, etc. Who really cares!!
Scatter
February 16, 2012 at 2:46pm
Apple isn't patent trolling. A patent troll would be one that purchases patents but doesn't do anything with them except sue other who infringe on them. Apple is protecting patents that they've either created or purchased for designs that they actively use in their products.
jesse_n_sf
February 15, 2012 at 3:59pm
No one should be able to even patent the way you use things. As for the look and feel of things..... you should only be able to patent a product that looks Identical meaning: Menu for menu, icon for icon, part for part with exact same dimensions. Icons have to be an exact replica of your own. I remember the first time long ago there was a TV commercial that asked you to call them to patent your ideas (it still happens today). This is when patent suing accelerated big time. These kinds of lawsuits have been around forever but not just recently have they accelerated in popularity. Patent Lawyers will help you patent your ideas because this is their way of getting more revenue. The more that is patented the easier these lawyers can get more money.
Scatter
February 16, 2012 at 2:55pm
It sounds like you have an issue with the patent system then. Perhaps you should write your congressman about it. However again, Apple's only playing by the rules.
bling581
February 17, 2012 at 10:42am
"Perhaps you should write your congressman about it."
Yeah, cause that always works. I've done this a few times and you just get an auto reply with some pre-written garbage letter.
schmag
February 15, 2012 at 12:44pm
it just goes show where the vision and innovation came from at apple.
Drew7
February 15, 2012 at 12:14pm
Apple F*CKING SUCKS since Jobs has died; Suing companies left and right. It's like as soon as the ol' man died, the hounds were let loose. And I'm sure Jobs would be DISGUSTED.~Drew
warptek2010
February 15, 2012 at 12:06pm
I think all the tech companies need to get together and take this snobby company down a few pegs. How many patents over the years has Apple infringed upon? You can't tell me they originated everything in their dumb as shit products. This makes me want to go out and buy a Galaxy Tab.
acidic
February 15, 2012 at 12:41pm
the only thing they have created is the phrase "patent troll". i cant wait until their "empire" comes tumbling down. i can only imagine what their cult followers will say or do. i see it all falling apart within the next 24 months. i cant wait
ApathyCurve
February 15, 2012 at 11:33am
If I needed another reason not to buy Apple products, (I don't), this would be it. Hippy culture + profit-by-litigation = FAIL
I hope the Chinese stick it right in their outbox.
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