January 3, 2007, Rochester, NY; Tokyo, Japan; and London, England--Eastman Kodak Company has ended a long-time patent dispute with Sony over digital-camera technology. The two companies have entered into a technology cross-license agreement that will allow each company broad access to the other's patent portfolio.
Kodak has also entered into a technology cross license with Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB that will allow Sony Ericsson access to Kodak technology for Sony Ericsson's products. Kodak will also have access to Sony Ericsson's technology. The license agreements are royalty bearing to Kodak. Additional financial terms were not disclosed.
Kodak sued Sony in 2004, claiming that the company infringed on a number of Kodak's patents; Sony soon countersued, claiming that Kodak infringed on some of Sony's own patents.
As well as opening their digital-camera technology to each other, the companies have agreed to conclude their patent litigation.