Trade Commission to Probe Apple, RIM

The U.S. International Trade Commission announced that it has agreed to launch an investigation of digital cameras on iPhone and BlackBerry phones created by Apple and Research in Motion, respectively.

The commission is acting on a complaint from Eastman Kodak Co., which alleges that cameras on the phone infringe on Kodak-held patents.

“By instituting this investigation (337-TA-703), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case,” the commission said in a statement. “The USITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's six administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.”