February 25, 2008
CNET: Behind the scenes, Wal-Mart and Target use radio-frequency identification tracking systems to keep their shelves stocked, but that method could face new complications if an ongoing patent lawsuit doesn't go their way. The suit, filed back in August 2006, accuses the retailers and Gillette of infringing on a U.S. patent covering an "inventory control system" that employs RFID technology to track the presence or absence of items and keep those items from colliding. The patent belongs to a Houston man named Ronald Bormaster, who assigned it to Houston-based RFID World, which does not appear to be using the system commercially, just before the suit was filed in 2006, according to court papers.
