Clipped tag

The Clipped Tag for enhancing RFID privacy

The privacy-protecting RFID tag, the “Clipped Tag” has been suggested by IBM as a consumer privacy mechanism. The clipped tag puts the option of privacy protection in the hands of the consumer. It provides a visible means of enhancing privacy protection by allowing the transformation of a long-range tag into a proximity tag that still may be read, but only at short range – less than a few inches or centimeters. This enables later use of the tag for returns or recalls. This invention was listed in the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Winners for 2006.