HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. –– Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), The Enterprise Mobility Company™, today announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Intermec Technologies Corp. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, relates to Intermec's infringement of Symbol patents covering wireless communications technologies.

Effective yesterday, Symbol terminated its supplier relationship with Intermec for laser scan engines. For a number of years, Symbol supplied Intermec with laser scan engines that Intermec embeds in its bar code scanning equipment. Symbol now believes it would be inappropriate to carry on such a commercial relationship with Intermec given the outstanding litigation between the two companies.

Symbol is recognized as a pioneer in laser bar code scanning technology, and currently holds more than 250 patents in the field of laser bar code scanning. Symbol also holds a significant patent portfolio in the areas relating to Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology, Liquid Injection Molding (LIMS) and imaging intellectual property (IP).

Yesterday's actions result from long but unfruitful licensing negotiations between the two companies regarding several issues relating to IP. Intermec is currently suing Symbol, accusing Symbol of infringing Intermec RFID (radio frequency identification) patents. Symbol sought to address these IP issues through a cross-licensing arrangement between the two companies. However, Symbol’s effort to reach a resolution was not successful.

“Symbol believes that Intermec’s imposition of its RFID IP on the industry is potentially harmful to the industry and customers. For months, Symbol has negotiated in earnest, seeking a fair business resolution. As we have a responsibility to our shareholders to protect and defend Symbol’s intellectual property, we believed there was no alternative but to file suit against Intermec,” said Peter Lieb, Symbol senior vice president and general counsel.

Symbol Technologies Inc.