Abusive Patent Litigation Bill Passes, Gets Bipartisan Support

Published: December 05, 2013, By Yolanda Simonsis

Finally, without so much as a grunt, groan, or filibuster from either party in the US House of Representatives, HR 3309–the Innovation Act, a bill which combats frivolous patent litigation–passed with a vote of 325 to 91 today. Who says nothing is getting done in Congress?

The bill's passage, which took place only this morning, is being lauded for the protection it will provide merchants, retailers, and printing companies (to name only a few) in curing abusive patent litigation practices.

Michael Makin, president & CEO of Printing Industries of America, comments: "Today's passage of the Innovation Act is a major first step in curing the abusive patent litigation practices that have targeted printing companies by an alarming rate this year. The future of print depends heavily on innovation and technology. Therefore, America's printing and graphic communications industry applauds the US House of Representative for demonstrating its strong support for rooting out the 'patent trolls' so that printers large and small have the freedom to redefine print through technology while doing what print has always done best: creating jobs. . . ."

Other organizations applauding the bipartisan support of this bill include the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the National Retail Federation (NRF), and the Consumer Electronics Assn. (CEA).

The bill now moves forward to the US Senate where it's hoped to pass and thereby relieve much of the abuse impacting the US economy at large and in particular small businesses that lack the resources to protest in court.

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