Kodak has launched lawsuits against Apple and RIM – manufacturers of the iPhone and BlackBerry, respectively, two of the world’s most popular devices – alleging that the vendors are infringing the photography company’s patents. A complaint filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) claims that the camera-enabled devices from both vendors “infringe a Kodak patent that covers technology related to a method for previewing images.” Separately, Kodak has also filed two suits against Apple in the US District Court for the Western District of New York that claim “the infringement of patents related to digital cameras and certain computer processes.” Kodak said it has licensed digital imaging technology to around 30 companies, including LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, but has spent years trying to amicably resolve a dispute with Apple and RIM. “We remain open to negotiating a fair and amicable agreement with both Apple and RIM, which has always been our preference and our practice with other licensees,” Laura G Quatela, chief intellectual property office at Kodak, said in a statement. “We seek to avoid litigation in our licensing programs whenever possible. But when the infringement is persistent, we will act to defend the interests of our shareholders and licensees, and to promote the fair compensation that is the bedrock of innovation.”

Kodak has been hit by the economic downturn and uses its patent portfolio as an important source of revenue. Reuters notes that in October it said it sees licensing revenue averaging at least US$250 million to US$350 million each year for the next several years. Kodak had revenues of about US$9.4 billion in 2008. Earlier this week Kodak said it won a case against Samsung for infringements by the South Korean manufacturer’s mobile phones. The Kodak case is just the latest in a series of patent disputes surrounding the iPhone; Apple is involved in a bitter conflict with Nokia that looks unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.