This recent RPX[1] report tells retailers what you likely already knew anecdotally – NPE cases are back. Patent litigation filings in the first half of 2015 are close to 2013 levels. As you are likely aware, this is in stark contrast to the large drops in 2014 filings.

The 2014 drop was largely explained

The following is a blog post by Varun Shah, Aruba Network’s Director, Intellectual Property — full disclosure, I previously represented Aruba.  Shah has an interesting alternative patent reform proposal that seeks to target the patent troll problem.  It is interesting for retailers because it is under-inclusive.  On the one hand, that is less

Patent trolls, and patent plaintiffs generally, were active on Wednesday. April 23.  184 cases were filed on Wednesday, by numerous plaintiffs, including Signal IP, various Joao Bock entities, Interface IP, PanTaurus, Olivistar, TQP Development, eDekka, and c4cast.  Of course, it could just be a bizarre coincidence, but as Dennis Crouch points out at Patently-O,

The Main Street Patent Coalition has formed as a group of trade associations representing main street-type businesses has come together to give voice the epidemic of patent trolls targeting retailers and other Main Street businesses and to push Congress for necessary reforms.  The Coalition includes key retail trade associations including:

This morning, the House of Representatives passed the Innovation Act (also known as the Goodlatte bill) by a vote of 325-91.  A number of amendments that would have gutted or watered down the bill were defeated.

Key provisions of the Innovation Act, as passed, include:

  • Heightened pleading requirements:  A complaint must identify the asserted claims