Shares of Eastman Kodak Co. are rising sharply after a judge at the U.S. International Trade Commission turned down Apple Inc.'s digital-camera patent claim against the photography pioneer.
Robert Rogers, a judge at the federal agency that oversees trade disputes, ruled late Thursday that Kodak's technology does not infringe on two Apple patents. The judge's decision is now subject to review by the agency's six commissioners.
Kodak is trying to negotiate a royalty-paying deal worth up to $1 billion in a separate patent-infringement claim against Apple and BlackBerry maker Research in Motion.
Rochester, N.Y.-based Kodak has amassed more than 1,000 digital-imaging patents, and almost all of today's digital cameras rely on that technology.
Kodak's stock rose 21 cents, or 7 percent, to $3.06 in morning trading Friday.
