Earlier this week, Digimedia Tech, LLC (Digimedia) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Nikon Inc. and Nikon Americas Inc. (Nikon) in the Eastern District of New York. The complaint alleges that Nikon violated three of Digimedia’s patents relating to its digital camera technology.
The Asserted Patents
Digimedia is the owner by assignment of U.S. Patent No. 6,914,635 B2, entitled “Microminiature Zoom System for Digital Camera. In addition, Digimedia also owns U.S. Patent No. 6,545,706 B1, entitled “System, Method, and Article of Manufacture for Tracking a Head of a Camera-Generated Image of a Person” and U.S. Patent No. 7,715,476 B2, having the same title as that of the ‘706 Patent. In particular, the ‘635 patent is directed toward providing technical solutions for features that are increasingly more difficult to incorporate into smaller, more compact digital cameras. These features include zoom, autofocus, and anti-shake capabilities. Additionally, the ‘706 and ‘476 patents are directed to identifying a head on an image in order to properly assist in focusing the camera when the subject is moving.
The Complaint
The complaint filed by Digimedia alleges that Nikon has “been and are now making, using, selling, offering for sale and/or importing products that incorporate one or more of the inventions” claimed in the asserted patents above. In particular, the complaint specifically calls out several of Nikon’s cameras, including the Nikon Cool Pix A1000 and the Nikon P900RM, as violating Digimedia’s valuable intellectual property rights.
The Relief Sought
Overall, Digimedia is seeking to have the Court find that Nikon is infringing its patents and its infringement is willful. Digimedia is also seeking at least a reasonable royalty and costs, including attorney’s fees.
