Symbol Technologies Inc. and Intermec Technologies Corp., competing providers of automated data capture technologies, have reached an agreement that settles their RFID (radio frequency identification) intellectual property dispute. In addition, all other pending and anticipated legal actions have been placed on hold while the two companies attempt to resolve their remaining intellectual property disputes.
In June 2004, Intermec filed a patent infringement suit against Matrics Corp., now Symbol Technologies, related to Intermec's RFID patents. Under terms of this agreement between the two companies, Symbol Technologies has joined Intermec's Rapid Start RFID intellectual property licensing program. The Rapid Start Licensing Program provides Symbol access to a number of Intermec RFID patent portfolios, including RFID tags and fixed and portable readers. Symbol also is providing Intermec access to Symbol's RFID intellectual property by exercising the cross-licensing provisions of the Rapid Start program. In addition, Intermec will file for dismissal of its RFID lawsuit in the Delaware district court.
Both companies believe this agreement is a fair compromise of the issues related to RFID and that 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.
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