This month features not only a stupid patent, but also a stupid trademark to go along with it. My Health, Inc. is the owner of U.S. Patent No. 6,612,985, which is entitled “Method and system for monitoring and treating a… Read More ›
Tag Archive for ‘Patent Trolls’
It’s Time to Shut Down the Most Prolific Patent Troll in the Country
Jason Cugle, if all goes well, will soon be able to continue to operate his mail-order business without fear of a spurious patent lawsuit. With any luck, so will thousands of other small businesses that are often targeted by one… Read More ›
An Open Letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley
Don’t Give Up on Venue Reform Stand up for comprehensive patent reform. Dear Sen. Chuck Grassley, I work at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), an organization that fights for digital rights in the U.S. and abroad. Like you, my colleagues… Read More ›
Victory: A Sliver of Light to Be Shed on Patent Case
Court Orders Blue Spike to Explain Why It’s Keeping the Public in the Dark In a victory for the First Amendment and public access to court proceedings, a magistrate judge ruled in favor of EFF’s motion to unseal documents in a… Read More ›
We Can’t Keep Waiting: Pass the VENUE Act This Year
As the law stands now, patent owners have almost complete control over which federal district to file a case in. That’s a major problem. It lets patent owners exploit significant differences between courts, an advantage that the alleged infringers in… Read More ›
Federal Circuit Declines to Fix Forum Shopping in Patent Cases, Reform Still Needed
In a disappointing but unsurprising ruling, the Federal Circuit confirmed today that patent owners essentially have free rein to file suit in any tiny corner of the country, regardless of its minimal connection to the patent owner, the alleged infringer,… Read More ›
Keep Trolls out of Trade
Trade Protection Not Troll Protection Act Would Prevent Patent Trolls from Blocking Imports Patent trolls don’t just demand money from innovators; they can actually interfere with international trade and block imports from entering the country. There’s a new bill in… Read More ›
Over a Year Later, EFF Granted Leave to Intervene in Patent Case
Fight to Make Documents Public Continues In December, 2014, EFF asked a court to allow it to intervene in a patent case so that we could formally request that certain documents in the court record be unsealed and made available… Read More ›
Stupid Patent of the Month: Mega-Troll Intellectual Ventures Hits Florist With Do-It-On-A-Computer Scheduling Patent
When it comes to patent trolls, no one is bigger than Intellectual Ventures. The Washington State-based behemoth is at the center of both patent trolling and the debate around patent reform. Though it claims to promote innovation, Intellectual Ventures is… Read More ›
Victory: Court Orders Patent Bully Garfum To Pay Attorneys’ Fees
In a decision that could help other victims of abusive patent litigation, a court today ordered that Garfum.com Corporation must pay an EFF client’s attorneys’ fees. The court found that Garfum’s patent suit lacked merit and was litigated unreasonably. Back… Read More ›