Samsung Electronics, Kodak in talks to settle patent dispute

SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. said Thursday it
is in talks with Eastman Kodak Co. to sign a cross-licensing agreement to settle
a patent dispute over digital-camera technology.
In November, the U.S. company filed a complaint with the International Trade
Commission (ITC) in Washington, alleging that the world's No. 2 mobile handset
maker had violated two of its patents related to digital-camera technology.
An ITC judge ruled last Thursday that Samsung Electronics infringed on two Kodak
patents, which could lead to a ban on Samsung's ditial camera exports to the U.S.
The ruling is subject to review by an ITC commission.
If the cross-licensing agreement is sealed, the dispute would be dropped, said
Samsung Electronics.
A cross-licensing agreement is a deal between two or more parties in which each
party gives rights to its intellectual property to the other parties.
Eastman Kodak said Wednesday that Samsung Electronics had agreed to make a
non-refundable payment to it this year, which will be credited toward future
royalty obligations, according to Bloomberg.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
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