patent trolls

New Hampshire Court: First Amendment Protects Criticism of “Patent Troll”

Author(s):

Daniel Nazer

Publication Date:

April 12, 2018

Publication Type:

Other Writing

A New Hampshire state court has dismissed a defamation suit filed by a patent owner unhappy that it had been called a “patent troll.” The court ruled [PDF] that the phrase “patent troll” and other rhetorical characterizations are not the type of factual statements that can be the basis of a defamation claim. Read more about New Hampshire Court: First Amendment Protects Criticism of “Patent Troll”

EFF to Court: Don’t Let Trolls Get Away With Asserting Stupid Software Patents

Author(s):

Daniel Nazer

Publication Date:

January 9, 2018

Publication Type:

Other Writing

If trolls don’t face consequences for asserting invalid software patents, then they will continue to shake down productive companies. That is why EFF has filed an amicus brief [PDF] urging the court to uphold fee awards against patent trolls (and their lawyers) when they assert software patents that are clearly invalid under the Supreme Court’s decision in Alice v. Read more about EFF to Court: Don’t Let Trolls Get Away With Asserting Stupid Software Patents

Court Orders Prolific Patent Troll Shipping & Transit LLC To Pay Defendant’s Legal Bill

Author(s):

Daniel Nazer

Publication Date:

July 7, 2017

Publication Type:

Other Writing

Shipping & Transit LLC, formerly known as Arrivalstar, is one of the most prolific patent trolls ever. It has filed more than 500 lawsuits alleging patent infringement. Despite having filed so many cases, it has never had a court rule on the validity of its patents. In recent years, Shipping & Transit’s usual practice is to dismiss its claims as soon as a defendant spends resources to fight back. A district court in California issued an order (PDF) this week ordering Shipping & Transit to pay a defendant's attorney's fees.

Supreme Court Ends Texas’ Grip On Patent Cases

Author(s):

Daniel Nazer

Publication Date:

May 22, 2017

Publication Type:

Other Writing

Today the Supreme Court issued a decision that will have a massive impact on patent troll litigation. In TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods, the court ruled that patent owners can sue corporate defendants only in districts where the defendant is incorporated or has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business. Read more about Supreme Court Ends Texas’ Grip On Patent Cases

Supreme Court Says Patent Trolls Can Wait A While Before Suing

Author(s):

Daniel Nazer

Publication Date:

March 22, 2017

Publication Type:

Other Writing

In a ruling this week that will cheer up patent trolls, the Supreme Court said patent owners can lie in wait for years before suing. This will allow trolls to sit around while others independently develop and build technology. The troll can then jump out from under the bridge and demand payment for work it had nothing to do with. Read more about Supreme Court Says Patent Trolls Can Wait A While Before Suing