It has been revealed that iPhone makers Apple and Blackberry producers Research in Motion (RIM) are to come under direct scrutiny of the US International Trade Commission (ITC) after continued suits against patent infringement reared up. Relating particularly to the technology that is used within the devices, it is the first time that the ITC have announced that they are to undertake an official investigation.
The move came as Kodak was the latest firm to bring about a complaint against both RIM and Apple, expressing that technology used in their cameras for previewing images had been used in both iPhones and Blackberry’s without prior consent. Asking the ITC to stop the shipping of both types of device, Kodak added that that whilst it hoped to finalise the matter “amicably”, negotiations with both firms over the matter had continued “for many” years without conclusion.
It is not the first time that claims resulting from this technology have come under scrutiny, with it previously being heard in front of a court in 2009. In that case a court judge ruled on the 17th December that Samsung had infringed upon patents held by Kodak in relation to camera-enabled mobiles. Making their new complaints to the ITC, Kodak also filed two further issues relating to computer and digital camera processes used in both iPhones and Blackberry’s. Meanwhile, both Apple and RIM refused to give a comment.
