PatentSale
Latest
Vringo buys small Nokia patent portfolio as asset sell-off continues
Nokia's sale of the century hour continues, selling off a small intellectual property portfolio to Vringo. The little-known app maker has snapped up a bundle of 500 patents and applications from the Finnish phone maker, including 109 issued US Patents. The collection mostly concerns backbone tech, including communication management, signal transmission and cellular infrastructure. Neither company mentioned a figure, but Vringo revealed that Nokia's getting a chunk of any future profits made. There's PR after the break if you're curious enough to wonder if Stephen Elop's planning the mobile phone equivalent of a yard sale.
WSJ: Apple, Google reportedly in rival groups to buy Kodak patents
Kodak might be cleared to sell its patents, but it's likely no fan of the companies lined up to make a deal. The Wall Street Journal's best friends, "people familiar with the matter," assert that Apple and Google are part of separate coalitions hoping to buy the 1,100 patents up for grabs. Apple's camp supposedly includes Microsoft and controversial patent holder Intellectual Ventures; Google's team reads more like an Android Justice League, with HTC, LG, Samsung and "patent risk solutions" provider RPX all playing a part. Real or not, there's still much that's up in the air. Kodak's not talking, and even the touted insiders warn both of new challengers and allegiances that could be in flux over the next few days. If there's meat on this rumor bone, however, it could make the August 8th auction another patent war spectacle rather than a mere ticket back to solvency for Kodak. Break out the popcorn. [Image credit: Pittaya Sroilong, Flickr]
Kodak can't dismiss Apple's claims on patents, gets clearance to sell those patents regardless
Apple might have been denied a lawsuit against Kodak while the former camera maker is in bankruptcy, but that hasn't kept it from winning in court. A Manhattan judge has tossed a Kodak attempt to dismiss Apple's claims that it, not Kodak, owns 10 of those patents through collaborative work back in the QuickTake days. The ruling explicitly clears Kodak to sell the patents to the highest bidder and gives it a quicker path to recovery. However, the compromise also sends a warning to any potential buyers that Apple might have a stake in patents that change hands -- a decision that will either push Kodak to set some money aside or risk sticking a potential buyer with the bill. While who owns what is still up for debate, Kodak likely isn't eager to have another Sword of Damocles over its head that risks scaring away much-needed patent buyers. [Image credit: Pittaya Sroilong, Flickr]
Kodak plans to sell off digital imaging patents
Kodak has filed proceedings to enable the bankrupt company to sell off its digital imaging patents. With a looming June 30th deadline in its lending agreement, the fallen camera maker is petitioning the court to approve a closed bids auction at a hearing on July 2nd. The company has broken the haul into two portfolios, one surrounding digital camera technology and the other concerning image analysis, manipulation and tagging. It's been pitching the pair around to various interested parties for the past year, with 20 companies reportedly registering an interest. If all is approved, the auction will be held in early August, with the winning bidder to be informed on the 13th of the month. The only question now is to wonder which industry values the portfolio more: the camera guys, or the cellphone guys. [Image Credit: MercerFilm]
