Eastman Kodak Co., the No. 1 maker of photographic film, said on Tuesday it has filed suit against Japan's Sony Corp. alleging that the consumer electronics company infringed 10 of Kodak's patents related to digital photography.
In a suit filed in a New York Federal Court, Rochester, New York-based Kodak alleged that Sony's products use technology invented by Kodak, including an "electronic camera utilizing image compression and digital storage."
Kodak, which is undergoing a tough transition toward digital products amid the decline of its film business, and Sony are among the leaders in sales of digital cameras, which do not use film and record images on computer chips and built-in memory cards.
Kodak's oldest patent in the matter was granted in 1991. The most recent, awarded in 2003, was for a device and method for capturing and selecting digital images to be printed.
Kodak spokesman Gerard Meuchner said the lawsuit follows the failure of talks between the companies that Kodak hoped would produce a licensing pact.
"We have attempted to resolve the matter with Sony for almost three years, and the discussion between us have not led to a suitable licensing agreement," he said.
A Sony spokesman said he had just become aware of the suit and had no comment.
