-marking Kodak’s momentum towards a successful emergence in the first half of 2013

Achieving one of Kodak’s key restructuring objectives, Eastman Kodak Company has completed a series of agreements that successfully monetizes its digital imaging patents. The proposed transaction follows other recent major accomplishments that include an agreement for interim and exit financing for the company’s emergence from its Chapter 11 restructuring, and resolution of US retiree non-pension benefits liabilities. Kodak’s monetization of IP assets further builds on its momentum toward a successful emergence in the first half of 2013.

Under the agreements, Kodak will receive approximately $525 million, a portion of which will be paid by twelve intellectual property licensees organized by Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corporation, with each licensee receiving rights with respect to the digital imaging patent portfolio and certain other Kodak patents. Another portion will be paid by Intellectual Ventures, which is acquiring the digital imaging patent portfolio subject to these new licenses, as well as previously existing licenses.

The transaction also includes an agreement to settle current patent-related litigation between the participants and Kodak, which avoids additional litigation costs and helps to ensure that management and the company’s resources focus on enhancing the operations of its core future businesses.

Commenting on the developments, Antonio M Perez, chairman and chief executive officer, Kodak said, “This monetization of patents is another major milestone towards successful emergence. Our progress has accelerated over the past several weeks as we prepare to emerge as a strong, sustainable company. This proposed transaction enables Kodak to repay a substantial amount of our initial DIP loan, satisfy a key condition for our new financing facility, and position our commercial imaging business for further growth and success.” The transaction enables the company to continue innovating in its core commercial imaging technologies that are fundamental to its future. Commercial imaging is a business in which Kodak has significant competitive advantages and strong growth prospects. “Kodak remains a major center of invention and innovation,” said Perez.

Taking forward its long standing partnership with Toshiba distributing their copiers and scanners across the country, HCL Infosystems will make available the latest Toshiba copiers - the e-Studio models 256, 456, e 2051c model and eSTUDIO18 through its extensive distribution channel, covering more than 500 company owned touch points.

-to present solutions at ExpoPrint Digital 2013

A subsidiary of the Japanese industrial group Ricoh Company, Ricoh Brasil will participate in ExpoPrint Digital 2013, to held during March 13-16, 2013, in São Paulo, Brazil. Eyeing the growing market of digital printing, Ricoh will be part of the event, presenting its launchings and new features in its booth. The company will highlight during the event its new equipments for continuous forms and cut sheet products with advanced technology. Apart from showcasing the cutting-edge software and hardware from the graphic arts universe, the bi-annual fair, this time, will also focusing on digital printing, personalization and small runs in the commercial, promotional and editorial segments.

-introduces the new ink efficient series and colour variant models, apart from launching innovative imaging software to add new dimensions to printing world

Aiming a major share in inkjet printer category, Canon India Pvt Ltd announced the launch of innovative imaging software ‘My Image Garden’ for its PIXMA range of inkjet printers along with new Ink Efficient Series and colour variant models. The new applications are designed to streamline the scanning and printing processes and offers consumers new interesting ways of innovating with photos and creating exciting craft works, calendars, posters, collage, etc.

In today’s age when consumer requirements change by the hour, the focus for Canon is to continuously innovate to come up with new consumer specific printing solutions and become an end-to-end solutions provider. With the introduction of new applications for its inkjet printers, innovative product range and state-of-the-art production facilities, Canon aims to become No.1 in Inkjet printer category by 2015.

Speaking on the occasion, Hideaki Fukai, group executive, inkjet product operations, Canon Inc, Japan said “Consumers today want to capture every moment of their happiness and we are witnessing a new trend in the home photo printing among consumers in India. Printers at home are being looked at as a lifestyle product and consumers would like to do more with their inkjet printers than just simple print. With the new applications that Canon has introduced, consumers can create innovative 3D arts, photo albums, photo frames among others. Our latest range on PIXMA inkjet printers and innovative software lets users learn new things and have fun in new ways. With the new exciting range of printers and innovations coming from Canon, we aim to be No. 1 in India by 2015.”

“Canon had phenomenal growth by thirty percent in inkjet category by year to date. This print space is undergoing major reconfiguration following our introduction of new technology that makes print cost more affordable. With strong marketing initiatives our market share has jumped to 22 percent in Q3 2012. This domain is vital for our future plans and we are aiming to reach 25 percent in the year 2013. We are putting all our efforts to take market leadership by the year 2015,” conveyed Dr Alok Bharadwaj, senior vice president, Canon India Pvt Ltd, adding, “We are also witnessing a lot of interest among Indian consumers for our Canon PIXMA printer which offers innovative design and stunning resolution to match the lifestyle of today’s consumers. Canon PIXMA E series, our ink efficient printers, is very popular for its cost efficient print and our new applications which offers consumers an easy and fun way of printing photos and 3D arts. My Image Garden and Creative Park Premium will add to the joy of printing.”

Printing with delight …

My Image Garden is an exciting new feature designed to bring out the user’s creativity. With My Image Garden, users will be able to access functions like scanning and printing, as well as integrate features of other software packages such Creative Park Premium, Fun Filter Effect and Full HD Movie Print. Creative Park Premium is a premium online content service available exclusively to users of select Canon PIXMA printers who use full set of genuine Canon inks. For users with content on Facebook, Canon has released Print Your Days, an app nested within Facebook itself to help user’s print Facebook photos of their friends and family.

Introduced on the occasion, Canon’s PIXMA MG 3170 inkjet printers with first in the industry to offer colour options are available in pristine white, wine red and piano black. The new range of PIXMA printers has the ability to print high quality documents and photos, the printer has an inbuilt technology called FINE (Full-photolithograpy Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology which helps in achieving high-quality and high-speed printing with a combination of high-density microscopic nozzles and improved cartridge movement speed.