Kodak sues Sony for digital-camera patent infringement

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - Eastman Kodak Co. has filed suit against Sony Corp. alleging that the Japanese electronics maker infringed on its patents on digital camera technologies.

The suit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, claims Sony violated 10 patents issued by Kodak from 1987 to 2003. The patents involved digital and video technologies, including image compression and digital storage.

Kodak seeks unspecified damages and an injunction against further infringement. The suit was filed against Tokyo-based Sony, Sony Corp. of America and Sony Electronics Inc.

``Kodak took this action to ensure our ability to continue to innovate in digital markets, to protect the intellectual property that results from these efforts and to support the companies that choose to license Kodak patents,'' Kodak spokesman Gerard Meuchner said.

Sony Electronics Inc. released a statement saying ``Sony has not violated any Kodak patent relating to digital imaging and will vigorously defend any allegations made in this regard.''

Last year, digital cameras outsold traditional film cameras for the first time in the United States, according to IDC, a market research firm in Framingham, Mass. Sony ranked first in sales with a 22 percent market share.

Kodak, which ranked second with an 18 percent share, recently introduced six new digital camera models in an effort to top Sony as the leader of the digital-camera market.