An association for businesses that supply, launder and maintain uniforms and linens has retained an intellectual property law firm to push back against patent-infringement claims being made against some of its members.

TRSA (formerly known as Textile Rental Services Association of America) says a company called Prova Group is claiming that its patents for authenticating sports memorabilia also apply to the inventory control methods long used by TRSA's members. Prova Group's website says its chairman and founder is former NFL running back and Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith.

"Our industry has been using long-established, automated-identification systems such as barcodes and RFID chips to track uniform, garments and PPE (personal protective equipment) inventory and their delivery to individuals as part of their conventional business methods," TRSA Vice Chair Noel Richardson said in a March 20 news release. "The technology has also been in use for years to track washes to ensure PPE integrity for the safety of at-risk workers such as first-responders, healthcare professionals, infrastructure, energy, pharmaceutical and other manufacturing, including high-visibility, FR (flame resistant) and barrier garments."

CEO Joseph Ricci said in the news release that some of TRSA's smaller members "are being forced to pay Prova's demands not because they are wrong but because they can't afford to fight."

"Some of the targeted companies have asked why a wealthy and successful professional athlete would take this type of action that threatens the ability of these smaller companies to stay in business and serve the community," Ricci said. "We think this is a fair question to ask."

TRSA has retained intellectual property firm Fish & Richardson to advise on countering Prova's claims and, if necessary, "will pursue legal remedies challenging the Prova patents."

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