Apple and Google play buddy-buddy for Kodak
Source: CNET
Have you ever seen vultures before? You know, either at your local zoo or even on your favorite animal network. How about hyenas? When an injured animal falls these animals will all gather around the corpse in the hopes of getting a piece of the prize.
Now, keep that image in your head as I tell you this next part: Recently, Apple and Google began to play together as they ripped the patent portfolio from Kodak’s carcass. And that’s not all boys and girl, the source also says that Samsung may be in the mix too!
If you remember, Kodak filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, during which the company put up its patents for sale. Kodak hoped to get more than $2 billion from the sale of the patents, but things don’t seem to be going Kodak’s way. Between Apple and Google, they have bid somewhere between $150million to $250million. CNET said that during a statement, Kodak “added that it might not even sell the patents at all”. Probably because they’re not getting the amount they want.
“The company reiterates that it has not reached a determination or agreement to sell the digital imaging patent portfolio, and may retain all or parts of it as a source of creditor recoveries in lieu of a sale if it concludes that doing so is in the best interests of the estate,” a Kodak spokesperson wrote in the statement.
Kodak accepting the bidding done by these companies would make them all part-owners which would protect them from any lawsuits between them.
Why is this a good thing? Well, Apple has been throwing a fit over Android products that “look too much like the Iphone”. In return, Samsung also sued Apple for patent-infringement. This is a clash of the titans if you will, so the best chance they have in forgetting this whole mess is joining forces against a common enemy.
So how do you feel about this whole Kodak patent deal? Are these companies just being big babies? Let us know by sharing us through any of your social networks by clicking on the buttons below.
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It’s all very convenient for them. I was shocked. 0_o
I’m glad you understand Rich.