SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) -- The Oregon Senate has passed a bill that would crack down on so-called "patent trolls."
On Friday, the state Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1540, 30-0. The legislation has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee.
Patent trolls -- the derogatory term for some patent assertion entities -- are companies that purchase groups of patents without an intent to market or develop a product. The companies then target other businesses with lawsuits alleging infringement of the patents they bought.
SB 1540 would make patent trolling a violation of Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act.
Also under SB 1540, those who have been targeted by a patent troll can sue for attorneys' fees.
The measure is sponsored by Sen. Jackie Winters, a Salem Republican, and Rep. Jennifer Williamson, a Portland Democrat.
"Oregon small businesses have plenty of challenges without worrying about extortion
scams," Winters, a retired small business owner, said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing earlier this month.
"This type of harassment is something we should actively and aggressively discourage."
Oregon isn't the first state looking to pass such a measure. Maine and Kentucky also are considering similar bills. Last year, Vermont signed into law its own patent trolling legislation.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at patents@legalnewsline.com.
Oregon patent troll bill clears Senate hurdle
