FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :     Wednesday, February 26, 2014
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605)773-3215 
 

Attorney General Marty Jackley Supports Federal Legislation to Protect Businesses
from “Patent Trolls” 

 
PIERRE, S.D – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that South Dakota joined 41 other state  attorneys general in submitting a letter to the Senate Judiciary and Commerce, Science and Transportation Committees, voicing support for federal legislation that will address patent trolls.
 
Patent trolls acquire patents solely for the purpose of using them to extract license fees and settlements from those targeted as alleged infringers. Consumers, small businesses and non-profit agencies are often targeted by patent trolls because they have purchased or used products with a wide-range of patented technology such as printers or scanners.

The Senate bill, S.1720, and the related H.R. 3309, which recently passed the House, would require greater clarity in patent demand letters and include patent litigation reforms that will help limit the power of patent trolls. 

The attorneys general expressed a desire, however, that any legislation confirm their existing state authority to protect their citizens from patent trolls. 

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