It is going to become more difficult for patent-holding firms, more commonly known as patent trolls, to harass American companies. According to The Wall Street Journal, President Barack Obama will soon announce new laws for patenting technology in the United States. The president is expected to announce five executive actions that will look to end costly lawsuits brought on by patent trolls and propose seven legislative changes to be examined by Congress.
The Obama administration will reportedly order, among other things, that the Patent and Trademark Office force patent holders to disclose the true owner of a patent in the hopes of preventing firms from using shell companies to sue rivals. The president will also recommend that Congress review existing procedures at the International Trade Commission, which has become an increasingly popular outlet for patent infringement lawsuits, and ensure the agency has “flexibility in hiring its judges.”
Lastly, the administration will ask the USPTO to examine applications more closely for overly broad patent claims.
