Regulation2026-10-06
Walmart will not renew a patent for scan-and-go tech that could personalize prices. The patent allowed dynamic price changes based on shopper cart data. Walmart says it does not use digital shelf labels for individual pricing. It also says it will not use the patent or renew it. The patent was granted in 2023 and set to expire in April 2039. Activists have highlighted the patent as part of broader pricing concerns. Walmart insists its pricing targets products, not people. Regulators have shown growing interest in personalized pricing practices.
What changed
Walmart held a patent for scan-and-go tech that could personalize prices.
What it unlocks
No use of digital shelf labels for individual or dynamic pricing.
- April 2039 patent expiration
- 2023 patent granted
Sources