Small Victory For Kodak (EK, AAPL, RIMM)

After Kodak EK won another small victory in patent dispute, its stock rose 20%. Kodak has been in dispute with Apple AAPL and Research In Motion RIMM over Kodak's patent on a digital previewing technology. Kodak shares had dropped 37% this year, but climbed to $4.02 at 9:32 a.m today from $3.40 at closing on Friday. Apple and RIM assert that the patent is invalid, and they are not infringing upon it. A judge had sided with Apple and RIM in January, but the U.S. International Trade Commission decided on March 25 to review the former judge's findings and possibly come to a different conclusion. The review increased the chances that Apple and RIM will settle the case outside of court. Kodak CEO Antonio Perez asserted that a victory could result in gains of up to $1 billion for Kodak. This figure is based upon previous settlements over the same patent with Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc.