Intermec files patent infringement lawsuit against Alien Technology

By Plant Engineering Staff July 5, 2006

Intermec, Inc. filed suit against Alien Technology in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for patent infringement, alleging that Alien’s Generation 2 RFID readers and tags infringe upon 10 Intermec patents. Intermec is also seeking an injunction prohibiting Alien from selling the infringing RFID products, as well as monetary damages.

Intermec also filed a motion to dismiss a declaratory judgment action filed by Alien in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota. Intermec is moving to dismiss the case on the grounds that the North Dakota federal court does not have jurisdiction to hear the case.

Intermec claims to hold more than 150 RFID patents. In 2005, the company offered a licensing program that provided access to portfolios of its RFID patents. There were 20 RFID industry leaders, including RFID, chip, tag, reader, printer and wireless network manufacturers, selected for the program. Alien Technology is not one of the licensees.