In its most recent lawsuit, Symbol alleges Intermec’s barcode scanner infringes on two patents it owns, which relate to technology that translates barcode information into numbers and letters, known as decoding a barcode.
The technology is used to decode a relatively new type of barcode, called reduced space symbology, or RSS, which are used on small items, and PDF417 barcodes, often used on identification cards.
Last month, on March 22, Symbol filed a lawsuit alleging that Intermec had infringed on its wireless communication patents. Just two days later, Intermec countersued, charging Symbol with infringement of its wireless access, terminal and software technology patents. On March 10, Symbol terminated its supplier relationship with Intermec for laser-scan engines that Intermec used in its barcode scanning equipment.
Symbol’s lead intellectual property attorney, Aaron Bernstein, told ComputerWire the Holtsville, New York-based company would likely not have filed this lawsuit if Intermec had been more willing to settle a much earlier legal dispute.
In June 2004, Intermec filed an RFID-related patent-infringement lawsuit against Matrics, a company that Symbol acquired three months later. If the first patent issue had been reasonably settled, it is unlikely that it would have come to this, Bernstein said.
Symbol’s most recent lawsuit against Everett, Washington-based Intermec was filed in a US District Court in Wisconsin. The financial amount of damages sought was not specified.
