RFID Patent Issues Getting More Attention

from the destroying-innovation dept

All those folks hoping to stop the spread of RFID technology may be happy to know that our patent system may help do the job for them. Back in July we noted that, like WiFi and WiMax, a patent holder was suddenly claiming patents related to RFID and looking to collect on them -- even if it held back the overall technology. News.com has picked up on the story, pointing out that RFID had been moving forward cooperatively until Intermec pulled out the patent card. Unfortunately, this is the way the standards world works these days. Too many companies get involved in the standards process not to come up with the most useful standards designed to drive innovation forward and create new markets, but to make sure they get their patented technology into the standard. This is slowing down innovation, via a patent system that claims it does the opposite.

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