kodak

Eastman Kodak failed to announce a winner for its patent bid yesterday, saying that the process is still "ongoing."

Kodak, which was supposed to announce the winners by 2 p.m. PT yesterday, said just minutes before the deadline that it was extending the time for its announcement. The company said that its creditors were onboard with the move, and indicated that all participants were still bound by a "court order on confidentiality."

"Kodak and its creditors have agreed to extend the timeline for announcing the outcome of the patent auction in light of continuing … Read more

Opening bids for Kodak's digital-imaging patent portfolio from two competing investor groups backed separately by Google and Apple came in far below the $2.6 billion that the troubled company says it is worth.

The photography pioneer received bids from the two groups in the $150 million and $250 million range, people familiar with the auction process told The Wall Street Journal.

Kodak representatives declined to comment on the reported bid range, citing a court confidentiality order.

"The auction process, including information about bids and the identity of bidders, is confidential pursuant to an order of the Bankruptcy … Read more

A U.S. bankruptcy judge has denied Apple's claim on two Kodak patents, saying the company waited too long to make ownership claims, Bloomberg reported.

Judge Allan Gropper's ruling called Apple's claims "unreasonably delayed," and said trying to figure out the ownership claims now could set Kodak back in its bankruptcy case.

The ruling settles two of the 10 claims Apple had on Kodak's patents. Gropper also denied a summary judgement request from Kodak for the other eight claims.

Kodak, which filed for bankruptcy protection in January, is attempting to auction 1,100 patents … Read more

Apple and Microsoft could once again join forces to bid on a collection of patents from a beleaguered technology giant, says a new report.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the two companies -- along with Nathan Myhrvold's Intellectual Ventures -- plan to band together to snatch up some or all of Kodak's patent portfolio. Initial bids for that collection of 1,100 patents are due at the beginning of next week.

The companies could face an opposing team made up of other rivals including Google, Samsung, HTC, and LG, along with San Francisco-based patent buyer and licensor … Read more

A federal judge has denied Apple's request to transfer its patent dispute with Kodak out of bankruptcy court, a move that could have disrupted the troubled photography company's plans to auction its digital-imaging patent portfolio.

U.S. District Judge George Daniels denied Apple's request for a change of venue to his court today, deferring to the judge presiding over Kodak's bankruptcy proceedings, according to a Reuters report. Judge Allan Gropper should have "an opportunity to render a decision on the motion and to have an opportunity to control and move forward the process," Daniels … Read more

The International Trade Commission has upheld a ruling that a Kodak patent in an infringement case against Apple and Research In Motion is invalid -- undermining the iconic photography company's efforts to save itself by selling its patent portfolio.

The ITC dismissed the Kodak complaint late Friday, upholding a preliminary ruling made May 21 by ITC administrative law judge Thomas Pender.

Kodak, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, has been hoping to raise billions of dollars by selling its 1,100 patents at auction.

The patent in the Apple and RIM case covers the previewing of … Read more

The number of waterproof rugged cameras has exploded over the past few years. The segment was basically owned by Pentax and Olympus, but now all of the major compact camera manufacturers have a rugged model, if not two or three.

The upside to that is there is something for just about everyone at various price points, starting at just more than $100. The more money you spend, the tougher the camera, though, so make sure you get something that meets your needs.

And if you're more interested in shooting video than photos, check out the two minicamcorders that follow the camera list. … Read more

Former photo giant Kodak has won a judge's approval to sell off a patents portfolio in a last-ditch revenue grab, which would see the company attempt to restructure in the face of bankruptcy.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper said in a hearing on Monday he will approve an order that would allow the Rochester, NY.-based company to sell more than 1,100 digital imaging patents, despite vocal objections to the sale from both Apple and spun-off company FlashPoint Technology.

Kodak, which filed for bankruptcy protection in January, is on a mission to sell its vast patent portfolios … Read more

Kodak has accused Apple of attempting to derail Kodak's plans to sell off a patent portfolio it needs to sell to survive.

The former photo giant -- which in January filed for bankruptcy protection -- is suing the maker of shiny rectangles in a bid to hold onto what it claims are its patents.

Apple, and spun-off company FlashPoint Technology, which was also named in the suit, claims ownership of the patents through a project Apple and Kodak worked on during the early 1990s, according to Reuters.

The patents relate to camera viewfinders on LCD screens, the filing said. … Read more