Data firms settle RFID intellectual property rights dispute

Two automated data capture firms have settled an intellectual property rights dispute over radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Intermec Technologies and Symbol Technologies have been in dispute since June 2004, when Intermec filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Matrics – acquired by Symbol Technologies in July 2004 – related to RFID patents.

The four US patents covered aspects of the basic RFID system: chip, tag and reader, and the interface between these elements.

The agreement made between the two firms will see Symbol joining Intermec’s Rapid Start RFID intellectual property licensing programme, giving it access to Intermec patents covering RFID tags and readers.

In turn, Symbol will give Intermec access to its own RFID intellectual property through cross-licensing provisions in the Rapid Start programme.

In a statement, the two firms said they believed the deal was “a fair compromise of the issues related to RFID”.

They added, “Subsequent efforts to reach resolution of all legal disputes is in the best interests of shareholders and customers and will encourage accelerated adoption of RFID and automated data collection technologies within the industry.”