Another part will be paid by Intellectual Ventures, which Kodak said is acquiring the digital imaging patent portfolio subject to these new licenses, as well as older licenses.
“This monetization of patents is another major milestone toward successful emergence (from bankruptcy),” Antonio Perez, Kodak chairman and chief executive, said in his company’s statement. “Our progress has accelerated over the past several weeks as we prepare to emerge as a strong, sustainable company.”
The proposed deal will help Kodak repay a substantial portion of its initial debtor-in-possession loan, which helped the company continue to operate while in bankruptcy. Kodak first filed for Chapter 11 protection in January 2012.
The second-largest concentration of Kodak workers outside its Rochester, N.Y. headquarters is in Kettering’s Miami Valley Research Park, the company has said. There, the company has several hundred workers working on products that Kodak has said will be part of the company’s future, commercial inkjet printers.
Kodak has also said it plans to invest in the Kettering site. The company laid off at least 66 local employees last spring.
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