LAS VEGAS – Sony has shrugged off rumours it may seek a tie-up with scandal-hit camera maker Olympus, and Fujifilm has refused to comment at CES.

Sony and Fujifilm are among several firms reported to be interested in joining forces with Olympus, which is reeling from a massive accounting fraud.

Speaking at CES, Elizabeth Boukis, senior public relations manager at Sony USA, told Amateur Photographer: ‘We don’t comment on rumours.

‘I don’t really know what to say other than that.’

Meanwhile, asked if Fujifilm was considering a strategic alliance with Olympus, Hiroyuki Saitou, operations manager of Fuji’s imaging products planning division, also remained tight-lipped.

Saitou was at CES to launch a new Fuji compact system camera, the X-Pro1.

On 8 January Olympus filed lawsuits against 19 current and former directors in connection with the cover-up.

Olympus is seeking a total of Yen 3,610 million, plus damages for delayed settlement.

The lawsuits concern ‘a breach of duty of care or other fiduciary duties’ in relation to ‘deferred posting of losses and related series of issues’, and ‘past dividend payments’.