Kodak files lawsuit for copyright violation against competitor

World's number one photographic film manufacturer, US group Eastman Kodak, has filed a lawsuit against Sony, accusing the Japanese giant of infringing 10 of its patents on digital photo technology.

The suit has been filed in a federal court in Rochester, New York, where Kodak is headquartered.

Kodak is trying to stop Sony from using the technology as well as seeking compensation, but said that talks with the Japanese company had broken down.

It is not yet known how much the main US photography producer was demanding.

The complaint covers patents registered between February 1987 and June 2003, that include techniques for previewing and storing images, printing and reproducing video images.

The action is taken against Sony's parent company, Sony Corporation of America, a distribution firm, and Sony Electronics Inc., a US subsidiary.

Kodak first warned Sony over copyright claims in July 2001 over the alleged infringement of five patents.

Kodak previously accused another Japanese firm in 2001 - Sanyo - of infringing its intellectual property rights, where a settlement was reached with Sanyo but it is not known how much the Japanese company paid.