MPHJ is probably the most notorious bottom feeder troll, threatening thousands of small businesses who might own scanners that scan documents and email them. It’s been so active that it’s drawn fire from the attorneys general in Vermont, Minnesota, and Nebraska. New York recently joined the fray, negotiating a settlement with MPHJ that requires the…
One of the key authors of the FTC Act, Louis Brandeis, wrote a century ago: “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” There are probably few areas that need a strong dose of transparency as much as the conduct of patent trolls. Patent trolls play on the…
As we’ve noted, the FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez recently proposed doing a 6(b) study on the patent assertion entity business model. The proposed study has the potential to get us information about how patent trolls operate that would be nearly impossible to get without litigation. MLex is reporting (subscription required) that FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen…
Welcome, new readers who are joining us after yesterday’s event and big announcement! Yesterday at an event co-sponsored by CCIA (which hosts this blog) and AAI (the American Antitrust Institute), FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez announced her intent to have the FTC do a 6(b) study on patent assertion entities, as the New York Times had…
Another day and another volley fired against patent assertion entities (PAEs). Today, it’s the FTC joining the fray. At an event co-sponsored by CCIA, FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez announced that she would be asking the Commission to institute a Section 6(b) investigation of the patent troll business model. Senator Leahy also sent Chairwoman Ramirez a…
CCIA and The American Antitrust Institute are hosting a panel, Competition Law & Patent Assertion Entities: What Antitrust Enforcers Can Do. This is a big event at the National Press Club today at noon, with FTC Chair Edith Ramirez scheduled to speak. The NY Times reports that Chairwoman Ramirez may make some major announcements as well: Ms. Ramirez…
On February 28th the White House announced that President Obama has selected current Commissioner Edith Ramirez as the new Chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission. Chairwoman Ramirez is an excellent choice for antitrust enforcement generally, but is truly an ideal Chair for the FTC as it prepares to face the next generation of anti-competitive practices…
