The U.S. House of Representatives passed on Thursday the Innovation Act. The bill intends to put an end to the "patent trolls" that have long been frustrating members of tech communities nationwide.
For those unacquainted with the term, a "patent troll" refers to companies that hold valuable patents, but only make profits by suing other companies, from large enterprises to budding startups, for infringements. These so-called trolls often purchase patents solely with the intention of filing infringement lawsuits against other firms, with the knowledge that settlement will be the cheapest way around the issue.
The House passed the act in a 325-91 vote on Thursday, according to the Washington Post. Now, the Senate must take up the legislation.
This legislative move comes just a month after the National Venture Capital Association published a study revealing that one in three startups face patent infringement accusations from patent trolls.
Boston's innovation community has taken to Twitter to voice their opinions on the Innovation Act. The Cambridge Innovation Center's Tim Rowe, for example, called up the community members to contact their respective reps below:
Today the House votes on the bipartisan Innovation Act to @stoppatenttrolls. Please contact your Rep: http://t.co/Xzt1e0TEJf
— Timothy Rowe (@rowe) December 5, 2013
