Kodak and Panasonic Reach Patent Settlement

Kodak and Panasonic have reached agreement over four U.S. patents, which Kodak claimed Panasonic had violated. In the report by business website Bloomberg, Kodak issued a lawsuit in July 2007, claiming that Panasonic used “inventions for image compression, storage, color sensors and previews it patented between 1991 and 2001"."The license agreement, which will allow each company access to the other’s patent portfolio, is royalty-bearing to Kodak,’’ said a Kodak statement. A similar lawsuit was settled with Sony in January 2007.

Website: Bloomberg - Kodak, Matsushita Settle Digital Camera Patent Fight

Kodak Press Release

Kodak Enters into Technology Cross-License Agreements with MEI and JVC

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) today announced that it has entered into technology license agreements with Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (MEI) and with Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) that will allow each company access to the other’s patent portfolio.

The license agreements, which provide significant benefits to all companies, is royalty bearing to Kodak. Additional financial terms were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial arrangement that advances the interests of Kodak and of MEI and JVC,” said Laura G. Quatela, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “Each cross-license agreement provides the companies with access to each other’s technology, and validates the strength of Kodak’s intellectual property portfolio.”

About Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak is the world’s foremost imaging innovator. With sales of $10.7 billion in 2006, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on helping people better use meaningful images and information in their life and work. Consumers use Kodak’s system of digital and traditional products and services to take, print and share their pictures anytime, anywhere; Businesses effectively communicate with customers worldwide using Kodak solutions for prepress, conventional and digital printing and document imaging; and Creative Professionals rely on Kodak technology to uniquely tell their story through moving or still images.

More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at http://www.kodak.com. 

Published: Monday, December 31, 2007

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