kodak

Apple and Google might be opponents competing for smartphone and tablet customers, but according to a Bloomberg report they have joined forces to acquire Eastman Kodak's 1,000 imaging patents for more than $500 million. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the possible alliance in August. Previously, the Journal reported that Apple and Google were each leading separate consortiums to purchase the patents in the range of $150 million to $250 million.

Eastman Kodak, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, needs to sell the patents to help pay down a $950 … Read more

Apple and Research In Motion can now intervene in Kodak's efforts to reinstate its patent case against the two tech giants, which was tossed by the U.S. International Trade Commission earlier this year.

In a court order (pdf) posted last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., said both Apple and RIM could intervene in the case, in which Kodak accused the two companies of infringing on its patents.

The decision means both companies can participate in Kodak's appeal and defend the products accused of infringement.

Kodak originally filed … Read more

The ailing Eastman Kodak will be required to cut more jobs, the company said today in a statement.

By the end of the year, Kodak expects to reduce its workforce by 1,000 more employees, saving the company about $330 million in salary and benefits. Kodak has already laid off 2,700 employees from its workforce since the beginning of this year.

"We recognize that we must significantly and expeditiously reduce our current cost structure, which is designed for a much larger, more diversified set of businesses," Kodak chairman and CEO Antonio Perez said today in a statement.… Read more

Friday's tech news roundup can ease symptoms of Gadget News Overload:

Kodak is selling the business that made it famous.

The company revealed yesterday that it's selling its traditional print film business as part of an auction to raise cash.

The sale extends to Kodak's entire personalized imaging and document division, which includes kiosks that develop photos, photo paper and still camera film products, and even equipment that snaps souvenir photos at theme parks.

Before the digital age, Kodak held the market on consumer photography and was virtually synonymous with the word "film."

The auction is part of the company's aim to segue from consumer products … Read more

Companies that seemingly hate each other in the mobile space are teaming up over Kodak's patents, a new report claims.

Over the last few days, Apple and Google have joined forces to bid on Kodak's patent portfolio, The Wall Street Journal is reporting, citing unnamed sources. Perhaps even more strange, the Journal claims that the consortium includes Samsung, Apple's arch-nemesis.

Kodak put its patents up for sale as part of a bankruptcy filing. According to earlier reports, Apple and Google had formed their own consortium to acquire the patents and bid around $150 million to $250 million … Read more

Rather than accept a bid offer for its patents, Kodak has decided to threaten those companies interested in its portfolio.

In an e-mailed statement to CNET, a Kodak spokesperson said that while the company is still in "active discussions" with would-be patent buyers, it has no duty to sell them. In fact, there's a chance that it may hold onto them.

"The company reiterates that it has not reached a determination or agreement to sell the digital imaging patent portfolio, and may retain all or parts of it as a source of creditor recoveries in lieu … Read more

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