The International Trade Commission has ruled against Kodak in a patent dispute with Apple and Research In Motion.

The ITC on Friday upholded a preliminary ruling made May 21 by ITC administrative law judge Thomas Pender. According to the new ruling, neither Apple nor RIM violated Kodak's patent.

The patent in the Apple and RIM case covers the previewing of images and was thought to be one of the most attractive to potential buyers.

Kodak has said it hopes to garner $1 billion from the claim. Now Kodak plans to appeal the ruling.

"The validity of the '218 patent has been upheld in previous litigation at the ITC, and was affirmed by the U.S. Patent and Trade Office in the face of two separate challenges, so we are confident that its validity will ultimately be upheld," the company said in a statement.

Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January. It has kept operating while it tries to sell its digital imaging patents.