i2Coalition Statement on Reps. Issa and Chu’s Patent Troll Legislation

Washington, DC – Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) Co-Founder and Board Chair Christian Dawson today released the following statement on legislation put forth by Representatives Issa and Chu to address the problems stemming from “patent trolls”:

“i2Coalition applauds Representatives Issa and Chu for their leadership fighting patent troll abuse and improving patent quality.   Patent trolls now account for a majority of all patent litigation in the United States, with litigation costs for small and medium-sized businesses averaging $1.75 million per lawsuit.  These trolls threaten to stifle the Internet infrastructure industry – an industry which generates an estimated $46 billion in annual direct and indirect revenue.  Litigation from patent trolls often drags on for years, costs millions, and impacts innovation that is so important to the viability of our industry.

The legislation put forth today by Representatives Issa and Chu will provide businesses targeted by patent trolls with a quick, cost-effective alternative to litigation.  It would allow businesses to petition the Patent Office to challenge the validity of a troll’s patent by expanding the Covered Business Method (CBM) Program, which in its present state is limited to financial services patents, to include all business method patents.  The more than 60 companies of the i2Coalition support such measures and thank Representatives Issa and Chu for taking the lead in the House on these issues.”

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