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Kodak Puts Large Batch of Digital Imaging Patents Up for Sale
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Eastman Kodak, which is currently in bankruptcy protection has announced plans to sell a block of 1,100 patents covering the capture, manipulation, and sharing of digital images.
Over the past decade, Kodak has generated more than $3 billion from licensing its digital imaging portfolio to companies such as Samsung, LG, Motorola, and Nokia, and is currently pursuing patent litigation against alleged infringers that include Apple, RIM, and HTC.
Apart from the revenue opportunities, the chance to acquire a patent pool that is key to the cameraphone market is likely to be of considerable interest to handset manufacturers engaged in tit-for-tat patent lawsuits.
Over the past 12 months, Kodak's financial advisor, Lazard, has conducted a marketing process for these assets. To date, 20 parties have signed confidentiality agreements and have been provided access to an electronic data room.
Timothy M. Lynch, Kodak Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Officer noted that the two portfolios being sold have different characteristics and may interest different buyers. The Digital Capture Portfolio includes over 700 patents, covering key aspects of image capture, processing, and transmission technologies that are crucial to the design and operation of digital cameras and multi-function devices, including camera-enabled smartphones and tablets. The KISS Portfolio includes over 400 patents that cover technologies including image analysis, manipulation and tagging, and network-based services, including image storage, access, and fulfillment.
Kodak expects the motion to approve bidding procedures to be heard by the Court on July 2, the auction to be held in early August, and the winning bidder to be announced by August 13.
Tags: [eastman kodak]
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