Symbol Strikes Over RFID Patents
April 29, 2005
The IP saga continues in court, with Intermec on the defensive this time.
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FurlSymbol Technologies has returned legal fire against Intermec Technologies, filing another round of patent infringement suits concerning wireless scanning technologies.
Symbol is also seeking an injunction barring rival Intermec from using its software, as well as monetary damages for prior use of its technology.
In the latest sparring match between the two wireless purveyors, Symbol alleged that Intermec copied intellectual property concerning wireless bar code scanning or radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies.
Symbol said Intermec has borrowed from its patents covering laser, imaging and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. Bar code scanning devices, such as mobile computing terminals and handheld scanners, are covered in the patents as well, said Symbol in a statement.
"We tried vigorously to work with Intermec to reach a mutually agreeable cross-licensing arrangement regarding several IP issues, including RFID, that would afford maximum value to each company's shareholders," said Symbol President and CEO Bill Nuti.
"However, Intermec was unwilling to even consider a fair and reasonable licensing arrangement, necessitating resolving differences relating to IP in the courtroom."
Nuti went on to urge Intermec and the industry to consider a royalty-free air interface standard to help RFID flourish.
Symbol filed suit against Intermec with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
The latest suit from Symbol comes roughly a month after Intermec sued Symbol for infringing on patents for a wireless data-capture system, portable data-processing devices and handheld data-capture devices with graphical user interfaces (GUI).
Two weeks before that salvo, Symbol filed
a patent-infringement countersuit against Intermec. Symbol claimed
that Intermec infringed on Symbol's patents relating to the Wi-Fi
The roots of the grudge match extend back to June when Intermec sued
Matrics right before Symbol purchased it. Symbol tried to reach a
cross-licensing agreement with Intermec, and when that didn't happen, Symbol
triggered its countersuit against Intermec on March 11.
At that time, Symbol canceled its scan-engine supplier agreement with
Intermec because Symbol believes it is inappropriate to continue a supplier
arrangement with a company that is suing Symbol.