COPYCENSE

"A key patent holder’s demand for royalties has triggered concerns that promising RFID technology could become embroiled in an intellectual property battle.

"The royalty flap stems from a new protocol, the Electronic Product Code Generation 2 standard, designed to improve the compatibility of radio-frequency identification (RFID) equipment from different suppliers and iron out a number of other technical kinks.

"The protocol is likely to contain certain patented technology from RFID equipment maker Intermec Technologies. The Everett, Wash., company recently demanded royalties for the use of the patents, and is suing Matrics, a rival, for allegedly infringing on some of them. The patent infringement suit, filed in June, is pending. No schedule has been set for the trial."

Alorie Gilbert. Static over RFID. News.com. Sept. 13, 2004.