RFID Dives Into Patent Pool
by
Cassimir Medford
on
27 November 2007, 16:15
Categories:
Computers
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General news
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Media
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Communications
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Internet
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Finance
Topics:
ibm
,
motorola
,
rfid
,
wal-mart
,
France Telecom
,
lg electronics
,
3M
,
H-P
,
DOJ
,
ThingMagic
,
Cassimir Medford
,
patent pooling
,
Zebra Technologies
,
Dave Poole
,
UHF
France Telecom, Hewlett-Packard, 3M Innovative Properties, and Motorola in a consortium of seven companie will attempt to push RFID technology into high tech's fast lane by using a licensing arrangement called patent pooling.
The RFID Consortium, which was first announced in August 2005, on Tuesday unveiled its seven members, which included LG Electronics, ThingMagic, and Zebra Technologies, and said it will focus on ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID, a popular version of the radio frequency identification technology.
Patent pooling is a licensing arrangement where patent licensees pay one price for all or most of the essential patents involved in creating products, applications, or services.
Communications technologies such as RFID involve communications among multiple complex systems including radio tags and readers in activities such as shipment tracking, livestock identification, passport checking, pet tagging, and even human implants so scores of patents could be involved.
"Our licensing arrangement is convenient and cost-effective to both the licensees and patent holder," said Dave Poole, a representative for the RFID Consortium.
RFID has picked up a number of supporters including U.S. government,agencies, Wal-Mart, and IBM. But it has been slowed by persistent high cost of the various pieces that go into building RFID applications and networks.
The consortium has requested a business review from the United States Department of Justice and the group expects an approval after which it will begin offering pooled licensing to firms interested in developing RFID products and services.
The group also hopes to convince more member companies with essential or critical patents to join the consortium.