Kodak Given Court OK to Auction Patent Portfolios

ROCHESTER, NY—Eastman Kodak obtained approval from the bankruptcy court to conduct an auction to sell its digital capture and Kodak Imaging Systems and Services (KISS) patent portfolios.

Kodak reported that its motion was contested by Apple Inc. and FlashPoint Technologies, which asserted “ownership” interests in a small number of the 1,100 patents in the portfolios. The court found that all of the patents in the digital capture and KISS patent portfolios are property of Kodak’s estate. Kodak said it was granted the right to sell these patents free and clear of Apple and FlashPoint’s claims at the auction, subject to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.