Symbol, Intermec resolve IP disputes

By Plant Engineering Staff July 20, 2006

AIDC companies Intermec, Inc. and Symbol Technologies, Inc. have reached an agreement that settles outstanding intellectual property disputes between the two companies.

Specific agreement terms are confidential. But according to released information, Intermec and Symbol have agreed to cross-license certain patents. The companies also entered into four-year covenants not to sue with respect to remaining patents and have released patent infringement damage claims that may have existed on the settlement date or may arise before the covenants expire.

In March 2005, Symbol filed lawsuits alleging that Intermec infringed upon certain Symbol bar-code scanning and wireless patents. Intermec filed counterclaims and a complaint in the U.S. ITC alleging that Symbol infringed upon certain Intermec bar-code scanning patents.

In Sept. 2005, Intermec and Symbol resolved the RFID portion of their dispute. The cross-licensing agreement gave both companies access to each other’s IP.