Eastman Kodak seeks to block imports of Research in Motion’s camera-enabled BlackBerrys
Eastman Kodak Co. is seeking to block imports of certain camera-enabled BlackBerrys by Research in Motion.
The Rochester, N.Y.-based camera company filed a complaint this week with the U.S. International Trade Commission, alleging that the BlackBerrys in question infringe on a Kodak patent relating to a method for previewing images.
Respondents in the action include both Research in Motion’s primary business in Canada and its U.S. operation, which is based in Las Colinas. A Research in Motion spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter.
Also named in Kodak’s International Trade Commission complaint is Apple Inc., which Kodak alleges is infringing on the same patent with its iPhones. Apple officials weren’t immediately available for comment Friday.
Kodak also filed two patent-infringement lawsuits against Apple in federal district court in New York guaranteed online personal loans.
The company did not sue Research in Motion in federal court, however; instead, it's only pursuing the International Trade Commission action against it, according to a Kodak press release.
David Lanzillo, a Kokak spokesman, told the Dallas Business Journal that the company opted not to pursue a court action against Research in Motion. “Our approach is appropriate to the specific infringement that we allege on the part of Apple and Research in Motion,” he said.
Earlier this week, the International Trade Commission opened an inquiry to a separate patent-infringement complaint against Research in Motion by a Nebraska company called Prism Technologies LLC.