Kodak, Lockheed, Fannie Mae: Hot Trends

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Popular searches on the Internet Wednesday include Eastman Kodak(EK), which filed patent lawsuits against Apple(AAPL) and HTC.

The suits allege Apple and HTC violated Kodak patents pertaining to photo transmission from devices. Kodak also sued HTC for violating its patent regarding image previewing on digital cameras.

The company already filed a similar suit against Apple and Research In Motion (RIMM). Kodak CEO Antonio Perez has said the Apple and RIM suit could generate $1 billion in new revenue. The company hasn't revealed how much it believes the suits against Apple and HTC could be worth. Kodak is seeking to sell or license mor than 1,100 patents.

In November, Kodak said selling patents and debt will help determine the company's ability to continue operating over the next year. The company lost 88% of its stock market value in 2011, as digital photography continues to take over photographic film.

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Lockheed Martin(LMT) is another popular search as NASA will boost its $6.4 billion Orion spacecraft contract with the company by an additional $375 million.

The added funds will help Lockheed conduct an early orbital flight test of Orion in 2014. The flight test will send Orion on its own for two elliptical orbits of Earth. It will return to the atmosphere at 84% of the speed of a typical capsule on its way back from the moon.

Orion, a capsule that is being developed to fly astronauts to places outside the Earth's orbit, will carry American astronauts as well as those from partner nations. Orion is being designed to visit places like the moon, asteroids or Mars.

Lockheed was chosen for the contract as it was reportedly the only candidate able to complete the flight test by early 2014. Boeing and SpaceX were also said to be interested in being considered for the test.

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Fannie Mae is a hot topic as its CEO is set to step down.

Michael J. Williams announced that he will continue as both CEO and as a director until his replacement is hired. He didn't give a reason for his departure, other than saying that the "time is right." Williams was appointed to lead the government-controlled company in 2009.