A Photo Finish: Polaroid and Fuji Settle Film Dispute

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Polaroid Corp. today announced that it has reached an agreement with Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. in a patent dispute over instant film made and sold in Japan.

Under the terms of the agreement, Polaroid agreed not to proceed against Fuji for infringement of Polaroid’s Japanese patent for integral instant film, upheld by the Japanese Patent Office, and Fuji has agreed to withdraw its appeal of the patent office decision, said Harry Johnson, Polaroid spokesman.

Fuji also agreed to give Polaroid access to certain Fuji technology and to sell Polaroid commercial products on favorable terms and conditions, Polaroid said.

The case had not been filed in court, although both sides had the option of pursuing it there.

Earlier this year, Polaroid won a federal court decision that forced rival Eastman Kodak Co. of Rochester, N.Y., out of the instant-photography business.