Apple and Google eye Kodak's patents

posted by Alan F. / Jul 27, 2012, 7:16 PM

Kodak has fallen greatly since the old days

Bankrupt photography giant Eastman Kodak is unloading 1,100 patents in a bid to raise some cash, and Apple and Google are battling each other for them in a court sponsored auction. Apple is teaming up with Microsoft Corp. and patent aggregation firm Intellectual Ventures Management LLC while Google has formed an alliance with patent aggregation firm RPX Corp., and three Android handset manufacturers, Samsung, HTC and LG. Those infamous insiders in the know say that bids could be solidified over the weekend with new bidders for the patents coming forward and companies changing alliances.

Kodak believes that its patents are worth as much as $2.6 billion although the insiders don't expect the bidding to reach those levels. While the patents involved deal with the workings of cameras on handsets and tablets, they do not have anything to do with important mobile technology. Kodak is hoping for a decent auction so that it can emerge from Bankruptcy court as a viable firm.

The auction will take place on August 8th and the patents will be sold in two lots. The first lot has to do with capturing and processing images on cameras, smartphones and tablets while the other deals with patents about storing and analyzing images. The former group is considered to be the most valuable. Opening bids were still being formulated on Friday.

Patent aggregation firms, which each side has on its team, are what some might consider "patent trolls" as they buy patents to build up a portfolio, but don't plan on using them in manufacturing. These firms acquire patents with the only intent to use them in court for infringement suits.

source: WSJ

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27 Comments

1. som

Posts: 768; Member since: Nov 10, 2009

Apple and Google are challenge each other and willing to pay any amount to buy patents because of Apple patent wars cost billions of dollars for nothing.

posted on Jul 27, 2012, 7:33 PM 9

2. JcHnd

Posts: 280; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

I know this is like "if you can't beat them, join them" the thing Microsoft doesn't know... is that maybe one day they'll get backfired and Apple will bite their butt too... as they are doing with samsung

posted on Jul 27, 2012, 7:50 PM 8

3. Hammerfest

Posts: 384; Member since: May 12, 2012

I hope Google buys both lots... sure its alot of money, but f**k-all if Apple wont use them (not in the mfg way, but the sue-happy way) to make the image in the mirror look even more like an assclown then it already does.

posted on Jul 27, 2012, 8:00 PM 9

4. marchels14 unregistered

if apple buys these patents, the big suing times are here and nobody will escape claws of apple,i hope Google or somebody except apple buys them.

posted on Jul 27, 2012, 8:17 PM 7

5. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

GOOGLE should BUY KODAK APPLE already trying to ban more and more Android MANUFACTURER

posted on Jul 27, 2012, 8:36 PM 9

6. mas11

Posts: 1034; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

Let's pray that Google and its Android friends win because if Apple and Microsoft win we may see only WP and iOS devices.

posted on Jul 27, 2012, 9:59 PM 12

7. cepcamba

Posts: 717; Member since: Feb 27, 2012

Give the asking price Google and stop Apple from another suing spree.

posted on Jul 27, 2012, 10:42 PM 5

8. whysoserious

Posts: 318; Member since: Jul 20, 2012

I'm willing to donate this 20 bucks on my pocket to google just so they can kick apple's sorry ass on this auction. Goodluck google!

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 1:12 AM 6

10. kunyuk

Posts: 56; Member since: Jun 29, 2012

Me too, i don't like a rotten fuit!

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 1:37 AM 3

16. rudlie

Posts: 205; Member since: Mar 13, 2012

you look likes did great with 20 bucks. it just my meal price for me. show me more then ... hahaha

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 10:30 AM 0

9. Savage unregistered

Here comes a dozen more lawsuits.

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 1:36 AM 3

11. darkkjedii

Posts: 31020; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

U guys all sound like a bunch of apple bashing retards. I'll donate $20, I don't like rotten fruit, let anybody get the patents but apple. Waaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaa waaaaaa get a f**king life.

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 6:23 AM 1

12. roscuthiii

Posts: 2383; Member since: Jul 18, 2010

And you sound just like them for being just as emotionally invested (albeit coming from the other direction) in a corporation that wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire, except for maybe taking the time to tell you you were burning wrong before stripping the cash from your charred fingers. (Those iDevices do heat up don't they? Could it be the hellfire inside consuming what's left of your soul?) I'd suggest you do some growing up, or at least if you want to log onto daddy's computer and troll that you don't come off sounding like some little girl on her first period.

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 8:14 AM 1

13. MorePhonesThanNeeded

Posts: 645; Member since: Oct 23, 2011

With a comment like yours are you sure you are equipped enough to call others "retards"? Anyway people don't like Apple's practices, since Apple doesn't license their patents that aren't FRAND...yes they are that kind of jerk company so they can bite it for all I care. Apple is like the worst in capitalism and it's being magnified for the world to see, this is what happens when you are greedy. You wonder why many hate the U.S. here's a prime example of the gross disgusting way humans chase down money.

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 8:28 AM 2

15. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

you could simply not show up - even taco does that sometimes...

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 9:56 AM 1

18. roscuthiii

Posts: 2383; Member since: Jul 18, 2010

Nope... he showed up a few down. And hey, he brought the hater-ade!

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 2:28 PM 0

14. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Google will be bidding 4 billion dollars....

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 9:56 AM 0

17. taco50

Posts: 5506; Member since: Oct 08, 2009

Hoping Apple gets these patents. I'd like to see more android handsets get banned

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 10:58 AM 1

19. poojaroy

Posts: 52; Member since: Apr 29, 2012

if google will buy than iphone 5 will b the last iphone ,the company {apple} is in dying stage and their money s wasting in court rooms

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 3:15 PM 2

20. Jay_F

Posts: 236; Member since: Nov 29, 2011

lmao you're a retard. A company worth over 600 billion is dying? Disappear.

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 3:31 PM 2

26. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

i like to see you get BAN again and SHUT UP

posted on Jul 29, 2012, 10:07 PM 0

21. Jay_F

Posts: 236; Member since: Nov 29, 2011

I like the hypocritical Android fanboys wanting Google to essentially turn into the same company as Apple with lawsuit material. This is just building for counter-suits if Google wins.

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 3:40 PM 0

22. sum182

Posts: 229; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

google wont wipe apple like apple would try to do to them. sorry, but i to dont want the anti-competitive company to get a hold of them....we're the only ones losing out if this happens. I own all android products but i do see the draw to the iphone...but i just cant do everything i'd like on the iphone, i need to download, i need access to my storage, emulators, open-source is a bonus ect.. got jelly day it was announced. And while i prefer android, i dont want iphone gone cause some people dont need everything android offers. I hope google nabs these to put up some defense to keep our options OPEN

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 3:56 PM 3

23. Jay_F

Posts: 236; Member since: Nov 29, 2011

That just means you're expecting Google to take the high road here. I think they're looking for a way to take some offensive in the patent wars instead of consistently being on the defensive. I agree the patent system only hurts the consumers in the long run, but unfortunately, it's not going anywhere. Eventually all companies turn anti-competitive. Why let your possible customer base buy competitor's products

posted on Jul 28, 2012, 4:23 PM 0

27. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

and it would be bad for the economy if APPLE tries to BAN any company. like their useless patents that never been put into production only to sue and ban others. Apple only is protecting their STOCK interest and doesn't want to fall into bankrupcty

posted on Jul 29, 2012, 10:08 PM 1

24. Gaurav008

Posts: 328; Member since: Jul 20, 2012

lol..a $ 600billion company disappearing...heck i dont think they even need microsoft for the bidding..they can claim it all alone... but if google gets the patents..there is a higher posdibility that it would be valued nd later used in the tech industry... but regarding apple..well their strategies are just to sue companies..with their big fat bag of ptaents ever increasing..