14 DAY TRIAL // Kodak is a name known by almost, if not, everybody. The American multinational public company produces imaging and photographic materials, plus equipment. Recently, Kodak has been re-focusing on two major markets: digital and photography.
It seems that the mobile phone manufacturer Nokia took some interest in what Kodak has to offer in terms of photographic knowledge; thus, the two companies signed a patent license agreement earlier this month. According to the agreement, each company will have access to the other's intellectual property portfolio.
As Kodak reveals, the license agreement which will provide significant benefits to both companies is royalty bearing to Kodak. There are no other pieces of information available on the matter.
“We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial arrangement that advances the interests of Kodak and Nokia and validates the strength of Kodak’s intellectual property portfolio,” said the Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company, Laura G. Quatela. “We look forward to continued collaboration with Nokia.”
This agreement is surely a pretty cryptic one, and what will result from it is anybody’s guess. There is a small chance to see Kodak mobile phones on the market, but Nokia smartphones that incorporate some of Kodak's technologies could be a hit. This is perhaps the reason the agreement is royalty bearing to Kodak. If that is the case, then we might expect to see in the near future Nokia mobile phones that will deliver users the same quality pictures as Kodak products do. Of course, there is always the possibility of a photo camera with dialing capabilities, but it would be unpractical. Anyway, we will just have to wait and see what comes out of this patent agreement.