Beleaguered Kodak Tries Patent-Suit Strategy on Apple, HTC

Looks like Kodak has settled on a novel way of drumming up interest in those digital-imaging patents it’s hoping to sell off to avoid bankruptcy: Assert them against some high-profile smartphone makers.

Late Tuesday, the company filed suit against Apple and HTC claiming they’ve infringed upon a handful of patents on technologies for transmitting digital images from cameras and other devices.

Kodak’s complaint covers Apple’s iPad 2, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPod touch, and a number of HTC tablets and phones — the Flyer, EVO View 4G, Vivid, Hero S, etc. And it seeks a proscription against further infringement as well as damages. But what Kodak’s really looking for here are the royalties.

As Tim Lynch, Kodak’s Chief IP officer, notes in a statement announcing the suit, “We remain open to negotiating a fair and amicable agreement with these companies, which has always been our preference and our practice with other licensees.”

News of the suits comes amid reports that Kodak is contemplating Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.