Kodak is suing the Matsushita companies, including JVC & Panasonic, for infringing its intellectual property. The legal action follows years of discussion of the matter between the two corporations and relates to patents applicable to digital cameras and camcorders. In recent years Kodak has run a successful campaign of seeking settlements with a succession of rival manufacturers in respect of the corporation's intellectual property. Kodak supports a lot of research and owns many patents.