Global RFID Consortium Formed

WILMINGTON, Del.—A new RFID Consortium organized by seven companies will license ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID patents to encourage widespread adoption of RFID standards and technology.

3M Innovative Properties Co.; France Telecom; HP; LG Electronics; Motorola; ThingMagic Inc.; and Zebra Technologies Corp. will jointly license patents that facilitate the manufacture of products supporting EPCglobal Inc. and ISO/IEC UHF RFID standards.

Under the joint licensing arrangement, patents essential to the practice of UHF RFID standards owned by participants in the licensing arrangement will be made available to interested companies via a single license.

"Our licensing arrangement helps companies in the RFID industry avoid high transaction costs, blocking positions, and costly litigation which might otherwise occur," explains Dave Poole, a spokesperson for the RFID Consortium and former vice president of patents and technology for Zebra Technologies Corp. "We believe this will provide a substantial benefit to both the RFID industry and the participating patent holders."

The consortium has requested a business review from the U.S. Department of Justice. After the review, the group expects to offer licenses to firms interested in making, using, or selling UHF RFID readers, labels, or chips used in labels.

For more information about the RFID Consortium, visit www.rfidlicensing.com.