Apple, Google And Microsoft All Keen For Kodak Patents

Apple and Microsoft are set to team up to fight Google for Kodak patents, as the photographic company pulls out of the digital and pocket video camera markets.

Google will be teaming with makers of Android smartphones, including Samsung, LG and HTC, as well as patent aggregation firm RPX, according to people familiar with the matter, cited by the Wall Street Journal.

The sources said Apple and Microsoft have formed a partnership with another patent aggregation company, Intellectual Ventures Management, to bid for the Kodak patents, which the photographic firm claimed are worth $2.6 billion.

Another round

It wasn’t long ago that a similar battle was waged over Nortel Networks patents. A consortium that included Apple and Microsoft won that round, but Google could benefit from the backing of its Android partners this time.

The auction is set to go ahead on 8 August, with patents to be sold in two lots. One will focus on how images are captured and processed on cameras, smartphones and tablets. The second will be related to storing and analysing images, amongst other technologies.

Back in January, Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the hope of salvaging the 120 year old company. It hoped that it would be given time to refocus the business and sell off “non-core IP assets”.

The company has also sought to gain funds by fighting its own patent lawsuits. It has filed a number of complaints against Apple, HTC and RIM. But earlier this month, it lost a case against Apple and RIM, having appealed against a decision handed down by the US International Trade Commission from May.

Are you a patent expert? Try our quiz!

Thomas Brewster

Tom Brewster is TechWeek Europe's Security Correspondent. He has also been named BT Information Security Journalist of the Year in 2012 and 2013.

Recent Posts

Australia Rejects Elon Musk Claim About Social Media Ban For Under-16s

Government minister flatly rejects Elon Musk's “unsurprising” allegation that Australian government seeks control of Internet…

2 hours ago

Northvolt Files For Bankruptcy Protection In US

Northvolt files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, and CEO and co-founder…

4 hours ago

UK’s CMA Readies Cloud Sector “Behavioural” Remedies – Report

Targetting AWS, Microsoft? British competition regulator soon to announce “behavioural” remedies for cloud sector

19 hours ago

Former Policy Boss At X Nick Pickles, Joins Sam Altman Venture

Move to Elon Musk rival. Former senior executive at X joins Sam Altman's venture formerly…

21 hours ago

Bitcoin Rises Above $96,000 Amid Trump Optimism

Bitcoin price rises towards $100,000, amid investor optimism of friendlier US regulatory landscape under Donald…

23 hours ago

FTX Co-Founder Gary Wang Spared Prison

Judge Kaplan praises former FTX CTO Gary Wang for his co-operation against Sam Bankman-Fried during…

23 hours ago