2006-11-16 IBM's Clipped Tag helps protect consumer privacy

IBM and Marnlen RFiD have announced their collaboration on consumer privacy protection for RFID tags - the potential production of smart RFID labels using IBM Research's Clipped Tag privacy technology and Marnlen's label manufacturing facilities. The Clipped Tag, developed by IBM, allows consumers to tear off a section of the tag to reduce its read-range to a few inches, thereby protecting consumer privacy while maintaining the benefits of the technology (such as product authentication or recalls). Although most RFID tagging is being done at the case or pallet level, item-level usage is becoming more common (for example, in the pharmaceutical industry, for drug e-pedigrees). The Clipped Tag has already been praised by a number of industry and consumer protection organisations as being a simple, practical way to address privacy concerns. Paul Moskowitz of IBM Research explained: "The Clipped Tag puts privacy protection into the hands of the consumer. It gives the consumer a visual confirmation of the tags' modification."

For additional information:
· Visit IBM at http://www.ibm.com
· Visit Marnlen at http://www.marnlen.com