Polaroid and Fuji Photo Settle Dispute Over Patent

Polaroid, which pushed Eastman Kodak out of the instant photography market, said Thursday that it has reached an agreement on another patent dispute with Fuji Photo Film Co. of Japan.

The agreement lets Fuji continue selling instant film in exchange for Polaroid getting a peek at some of Fuji’s other graphics technology.

Separately, Kodak announced that it had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision that forced it to abandon instant photography. Kodak said, however, that it would not re-enter the market even if the high court rules in its favor.

Analysts said the agreement between Polaroid and Fuji reflects Polaroid’s interest in Fuji’s research in electronic imaging.

Polaroid agreed not to proceed against Fuji for infringement of Polaroid’s Japanese patent for integral instant film, upheld by the Japanese Patent Office. In return, Fuji agreed not to appeal the patent office decision. It also agreed to give Cambridge, Mass.-based Polaroid access to certain Fuji technology and to sell Polaroid commercial products on favorable terms and conditions, Polaroid said.

In April, a federal appeals court in Washington upheld the ruling of U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel in Boston saying that Kodak violated seven Polaroid patents for instant photography.

Kodak spokesman Hank Kaska said the company appealed to the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The high court is not required to consider Kodak’s petition for a review.