House Passes Bill Aimed at Patent “Trolls”
The House overwhelmingly passed legislation Thursday aimed at discouraging frivolous lawsuits by patent holders who hope to extract settlements from companies wary of litigation costs.
By a vote of 325-91, the House approved the Innovation Act from House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.), setting the stage for the Senate to act in the coming months. The bill would require patent holders who file lawsuits to disclose more information upfront on the patents involved and the nature of the alleged infringement. It would also give judges more discretion to limit discovery or award legal fees when a lawsuit fails to prove infringement.
