Kodak vs. Samsung and LG Electronics.

Imaging innovator, Eastman Kodak Company has announced that it has filed complaints against Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and other related entities for infringement of Kodak patents. The company filed against Samsung and LG in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, as well as in the U.S. International Trade Commission. Kodak’s District Court complaints request compensation for damages resulting from the companies’ infringement, and both the District Court and ITC actions seek injunctions prohibiting Samsung and LG from further importation and sale of products cited in the complaints. The Kodak actions specifically allege that Samsung and LG camera phones infringe Kodak digital camera patents. The patents in question cover technology related to image capture, compression and data storage and a method for previewing motion images. “Kodak has a long history of innovation and we have invested many millions of dollars developing our digital camera technology,” said Laura G. Quatela, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “We’ve held discussions with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue and have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement. Consequently, we must take this legal action in order to ensure that we protect the interests of our shareholders and existing licensees of Kodak digital camera patents.” Kodak has licensed its imaging patents to several leading technology companies including: MEI/Panasonic, Motorola, Nokia, Olympus, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony, Sony- Ericsson and others.

Yamaha and Shure Offer Digital Sound Course.

Beginning January 2009, Yamaha Commercial Audio Training Seminars will offer Digital Sound Reinforcement 101 (DSR101) as part of the course selection offered throughout the year both regionally and at the company’s Buena Park, CA, headquarters. The two-day class, which is now in its third year, will provide complete audio system design and networking solutions, making it an ideal tool for audio engineers, system designers and technicians. Co-sponsored in part by microphone maker Shure, the seminar will focus on setup techniques ranging from microphones to large-scale speakers. Topics include gain construction, attenuator settings, SPL estimation and spec analysis. Course components include fundamental concepts such as dBSPL, dBu, dBV, microphone characteristics, how to select a microphone, wireless technology, how to maximize the benefits of wireless systems and managing frequencies. Use of Yamaha, NEXIO and Shure products will also be covered. There is no cost for attending the Digital SR System 101. Course dates and locations for 2009 are to be announced soon.

TiVo Adds Pizza to the Menu.

California based digital video recorder (DVR) pioneer, TiVo has announced that the company has teamed up with Domino's Pizza to give broadband connected TiVo subscribers the ability to order pizza for delivery or pick-up, and track delivery timing, right from their TV sets using the TiVo service. According to the company, TiVo subscribers can build their pizza order right from the television set by selecting type of crust, toppings, and sauces, and get the pizza delivered by their local Domino’s Pizza in about 30 minutes. Karen Bressner, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales, TiVo Inc said, “Our commitment to revolutionizing interactive advertising and commerce on the television is a direct result of the innovative solutions and features we provide. TiVo’s growing list of interactive features also includes the ability to find and purchase products on Amazon.com related to a customer’s favorite TV show or the convenience of being able to search for a movie that’s playing nearby and purchase tickets through Fandango - all by using the TiVo remote.” The new service is free of charge to all broadband connected TiVo subscribers (Series 2 or later) and supports both delivery and pick-up orders.

Clarke Camera Cars - Shifting into Overdrive with Markertek !

Sarasota, FL - Markertek is the motion media solution source in supplying the video assist industry with production and field necessities. We just shipped audio support technology to Clarke Camera Cars at its U.S. production office in Sarasota, FL. CCC is a southeastern mobile support company that provides video assist vehicles for the film and media industry. CCC's work can be seen in Hollywood major motion pictures such as The Pelican Brief, True Lies and Inspector Gadget as well as in advertising, commercials while also offering private rental. All CCC drivers are members of the Extreme Stunt & Precision Driving Team, and include Stunt/Safety Coordinators & 2nd Unit Directors. Markertek is honored to work with media vehicle companies like CCC that bring motion media and excitement to the film and video industry through mobile support technology.

Tracking Flu Trends - Google Style.

Internet search giant, Google has announced the launch of its newest service, Google Flu Trends. What began as a small team of software engineers exploring whether they could go beyond simple trends and accurately model real-world phenomena using patterns in search queries, has resulted in a tool designed to identify flu-outbreak patterns through an analysis of search data. The team found that certain aggregated search queries tend to be very common during flu season each year. When these aggregated queries are compared against data provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they found that there's a very close relationship between the frequency of these search queries and the number of people who are experiencing flu-like symptoms across the United States. The CDC's tracking depends on several data collection methods to build its reports. Details from doctors and state health departments assist in helping the Center determine flu levels across the country. Going back to 2004, a comparison of Google's results showing the rise and fall of flu-related activity compared to measurements taken by the CDC shows the two as virtually the same. "We shared our preliminary results with the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch of the Influenza Division at CDC throughout the 2007-2008 flu season, and together we saw that our search-based flu estimates had a consistently strong correlation with real CDC surveillance data. Our system is still very experimental, so anything is possible, but we're hoping to see similar correlations in the coming year." According to Google, while CDC's tracking will likely remain a more accurate measure of the flu's impact on a given community, making the search engine's flu estimates available each day, Google Flu Trends may provide an early-warning system for outbreaks of influenza.

"I'll Take Sony at CES for $500, Alex."

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has announced that Sony will again have a major presence at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas ths January. Additionally, in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Jeopardy!, SPT will film a total of 11 live-to-tape daily episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy! on a specially built 16,000-square-foot set on the CES show floor. The set, which will accommodate 600 audience members, in conjunction with Sony's adjacent exhibition booth will be the largest exhibition of digital entertainment in CES show history. “CES provides an unparalleled stage to demonstrate how content and devices come together to provide amazing entertainment,” said SPT president Steve Mosko. "Jeopardy! is a brand that has crossed platforms seamlessly, reaching viewers on a variety of devices, and we are thrilled to give CES attendees an up close look at one of America's favorite TV shows." Mosko also said Sony will highlight a new, interactive gaming application develped with Airplay called "Play Jeopardy Live." According to CES show owner, Consumer Electronics Assocuiation (CEA), the 2009 International CES will feature more than 2,700 exhibitors introducing the latest consumer technology products throughout 30 product categories including digital entertainment, high-performance audio, digital imaging, electronic gaming and more. For more information and to register to attend the 2009 International CES visit www.CESweb.org. The show runs January 8-11, 2009 in Las Vegas.

International LCD Cartel Fined $585 Million.

Three leading electronics manufacturers - LG Display Co. Ltd., Sharp Corp. and Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. - have agreed to plead guilty and pay a total of $585 million in criminal fines for their roles in conspiracies to fix prices in the sale of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, the Department of Justice announced. Of the $585 million in fines, LG will pay $400 million, the second highest criminal fine ever imposed by the Department’s Antitrust Division. Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracies are some of the largest computer, television and cellular telephone manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and Motorola. According to the Justice, LG Display Co. Ltd, a South Korean corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, LG Display America Inc., a California company (LG), agreed to plead guilty to participating in a conspiracy from September 2001 to June 2006 to fix the price of TFT-LCD panels sold worldwide. Sharp Corp., a Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $120 million fine for its participation in separate conspiracies to fix the price of TFT-LCD panels sold to Dell Inc. from April 2001 to December 2006 for use in computer monitors and laptops; to Motorola Inc. from fall 2005 to the middle of 2006 for use in Razr mobile phones; and to Apple Computer Inc. from September 2005 to December 2006 for use in iPod portable music players. Chunghwa, a Taiwanese TFT-LCD panel manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $65 million fine for its participation with LG and other unnamed co-conspirators in a conspiracy from September 2001 to December 2006 to fix the price of TFT-LCD panels sold worldwide. "These price-fixing conspiracies affected millions of American consumers who use computers, cell phones and numerous other household electronics every day," said Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department’s Antitrust Division. "These convictions, and the significant fines they carry, should send a clear message that the Antitrust Division will vigorously investigate and prosecute illegal cartels, regardless of where they are located." All three companies have agreed to cooperate with the Department’s ongoing antitrust investigation.

Lithium Batteries Get a Boost.

According to a recent report, a team of South Korean researchers have developed a new technology that makes lithium batteries 90 percent more energy efficient than current batteries. The team, led by Hanyang University professor Cho Jae-phil, replaced graphite as the main material of the negative electrode with three-dimensional porous silicon particles made of silica and hydrogen fluoride. While scientists already knew about the benefits of using the new material, they have been faced with the challenge of silicon expanding when put into contact with lithium. The research team reports that it was able to overcome this problem by using porous particles. The team has applied for four basic technology patents related to the battery in South Korea, the United States and the European Union, and commercial production could begin in four to five years, said Cho. He added that work is currently being conducted to merge the technology with solar panels, and that the new technology would also have a great impact on many other industries including mobile device and automotive makers.

Markertek Welcomes to the Family this Week:

EWTN
Echo E-Recycling
Sony Pictures Editing
Viejas Casino
MTV Networks LA
Sonicpool
Barton College
Mill Valley Film Group
KGO-TV
Pacifica Community TV
Nielsen Media Research
Iowa Events Center
Stonehill College
ATX Labs
LG Audio

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