ABI Research reports that a group of 20 RFID vendors has formed a “patent pool” consortium with the intention of offering easier access to RFID intellectual property. Existing industry groups that license MPEG and DVD technology are said to have provided the model for the new consortium, according to ABI.

While the full membership list has not yet been released, ABI has identified roughly 10 leading RFID suppliers among the founders, including Alien Technology, Symbol Technologies, Avery Dennison, Thingmagic, Moore Wallace, AWID and Zebra Technologies. “Notable by its absence,” says ABI, is Intermec, holder of some 140 critical patents related to RFID technology. Will Intermec's absence significantly reduce the consortium's clout? Maybe, maybe not, according to ABI.

“Regardless of how Intermec's IP issues are resolved,” says Erik Michielsen, ABI Research's director of RFID and ubiquitous technologies, “there are dozens of other IP holders in the market that are looking to profit from EPC Gen2 licensing. With or without Intermec,” concludes Michielsen, “the number of patent negotiations will be reduced from potentially hundreds down to a handful. If need be, companies can still address Intermec licensing on a one-to-one basis. The market will still move forward more quickly.”

Another question raised by the incomplete membership list, ABI notes, is the role of silicon manufacturers such as Texas Instruments and Philips. ABI suggests that it is “important for the group's credibility” that silicon vendors demonstrate public support.

 
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