Business events that defined 2012

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January 19: Kodak files for bankruptcy

Photography icon Eastman Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it sought to boost its cash position and stay in business. The move came as the ailing company failed to find a buyer for its trove of 1,100 digital imaging patents. Kodak had said in November 2011 that it could run out of cash in a year if it didn't sell the patents, which it hoped would fetch billions.