Intermec Technologies and EPCglobal have announced that Intermec has offered to temporarily suspend its recently announced RFID intellectual property RAND (reasonable and non-discriminatory) licensing programme for the EPCglobal Generation 2 RFID standard for 60 days to allow validation of the candidate specification.

     This temporary suspension will clear the way for technology providers to submit UHF Generation 2 prototype chips, tags and readers for the purpose of testing by EPCglobal without violating Intermec''s intellectual property rights. 116.30.147.133 This article is copyright 2004 UsingRFID.com.

     "This spirit of collaboration is exactly what the EPCglobal community and marketplace needs," said Dick Cantwell, chairman of the EPCglobal board of governors. "The industry is eager for the release of a common specification that will drive this emerging market forward. Today''s announcement confirms that the process is continuing, the issues are being addressed, and that progress is being made."

The background
     The UHF Generation 2 standard is a foundational element in the continued build-out of the EPCglobal Network, which combines RFID technology, internet connectivity, and the EPC (electronic product code) to provide accurate, cost-efficient visibility of information throughout supply chains. The end result is intended to help companies become more efficient, flexible, and responsive to their customers'' needs by improving supply chain processes and inventory control.

     Earlier in 2004 (see 15th July) Intermec announced its claim to ownership of the proposed air-interface protocol for the newly agreed UHF EPC Generation 2 tag standard, along with its intention to charge royalties for its use. At the time Erik Michielsen, principal analyst for ABI Research, warned that what the industry needs instead of such an IP restriction is open access to the basic technology, allowing multiple suppliers and low prices to meet rapidly escalating market demand.

The players
     Intermec Technologies Corporation provides supply chain solutions and develops, manufactures, and integrates wired and wireless automated data collection systems. The company produces its proprietary Intellitag RFID tags, mobile computing systems, bar code printers and label media for customers across a wide range of industries.

     EPCglobal Inc, a joint venture between EAN International and the Uniform Code Council Inc., is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to establish and support the EPCglobal Network as the global standard for real-time, automatic identification of information in the supply chain of any company, anywhere in the world. EPCglobal US is an affiliate of EPCglobal Inc., specifically serving clients within the USA.

 

 

 

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