Arlington, Va. – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is lauding the House vote on H.R. 3309 Innovation Act which is designed to fight patent trolling.
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA, said in a prepared statement, “Today Congress worked in bipartisan fashion to do the right thing and secure America’s economic future. Patent trolling is garden-variety extortion by another name, and we are one step closer to shutting it down. I applaud today’s vote to end frivolous patent litigation that is suppressing innovation, stifling economic growth and costing Americans tens of billions of dollars.”
Shapiro commented that the Innovation Act w”ill greatly reduce the epidemic of patent lawsuit abuse afflicting the U.S. economy and provide particular relief for small businesses, the primary victims of patent trolls, who lack the resources to fight back in court. This legislation will crack down on those who abuse patent law, without impinging on legitimate companies and patents. Democrats and Republicans agree that there is no reason to reward those who make no useful products or services, but make money by extorting innovators and job-creators.”
He called the vote on the Innovation Act, “The most important technology vote of 2013. We urge the Senate to move quickly and pass strong patent abuse legislation. Together we can drive the trolls back under the bridge, and allow Americans to create extraordinary new inventions without fear of ruinous and bogus lawsuits.”
