Kodak Sues LG, Samsung over Photo Patents

According to Kodak, the Korean companies have used patented Kodak technologies in their camera phones without permission.

Samsung and LG may now dominate the U.S. phone market with number one and three spots, respectively, but it appears both companies may have stepped on some toes in getting there. On Tuesday, Kodak filed suit against the Korean giants, alleging that the companies infringed on its patents in the construction of their camera phones.

According to Kodak, Samsung and LG used Kodak-patented technologies relating to image capture, compression and data storage, as well as a method for previewing motion images. The company formally filed its complaint with a U.S. District Court in Western New York, where it is based.

“We’ve held discussions with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue and have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement,” said Kodak vice president Laura G. Quatela, in a statement. “Consequently, we must take this legal action in order to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and existing licensees of Kodak digital camera patents.”

Samsung issued a statement reaffirming that it “forbids infringement and unauthorized use of such intellectual property,” and will “respond actively to these litigations.”

LG, meanwhile, denied the accusations entirely. “Our digital-camera technology is different from the one used by Kodak,” said LG Electronics spokesman Choi Jun-hyuk. “We haven’t infringed upon Kodak’s related patents. We’ll actively deal with the case.”

Kodak will seek both injunctions prohibiting the sale of certain Samsung and LG products in the U.S., as well as unspecified monetary damages.