David Savastano08.08.13
The cost for a company trying to defend itself from a lawsuit that it deems frivolous can often range into millions of dollars. It usually is much less costly to simply settle, even if the case is unfair. Companies are finding themselves victimized by individuals or companies claiming to hold patents, in what is known as “patent trolling.”
According to Wikipedia, patent trolls are “a person or company that enforces its patents against one or more alleged infringers in a manner considered unduly aggressive or opportunistic, often with no intention to manufacture or market the product.”
The printing industry is finding itself in this sort of predicament. According to the Printing Industries of America’s (PIA) president and CEO Michael Makin, the PIA has learned of “an alarming increase in the number of printers who have reported being targeted by law firms alleging they are infringing patents for technologies as ubiquitous in the industry as prepress workflow, computer-to-plate, and Web-to-print.”
In essence, any printer who uses prepress workflow or computer-to-plate technology – i.e. virtually every printer – could be targeted.
Mr. Makin noted that the White House reports that “suits brought by patent trolls have tripled in the last two years, rising from 29 percent of all infringement suits to 62 percent of all infringement cases.”
The PIA notes that a wide range of printing firms have received threatening letters demanding money or else they will face a lawsuit. One can imagine that any indiustry coud be threatened, including the ink industry.
PIA is among the groups looking to Congress for legislation to protect companies from this sort of attack, joining Google, Facebook, Macy’s, Wal-Mart and many other groups. Time will tell if Congress can work together to protect companies from these lawsuits.
According to Wikipedia, patent trolls are “a person or company that enforces its patents against one or more alleged infringers in a manner considered unduly aggressive or opportunistic, often with no intention to manufacture or market the product.”
The printing industry is finding itself in this sort of predicament. According to the Printing Industries of America’s (PIA) president and CEO Michael Makin, the PIA has learned of “an alarming increase in the number of printers who have reported being targeted by law firms alleging they are infringing patents for technologies as ubiquitous in the industry as prepress workflow, computer-to-plate, and Web-to-print.”
In essence, any printer who uses prepress workflow or computer-to-plate technology – i.e. virtually every printer – could be targeted.
Mr. Makin noted that the White House reports that “suits brought by patent trolls have tripled in the last two years, rising from 29 percent of all infringement suits to 62 percent of all infringement cases.”
The PIA notes that a wide range of printing firms have received threatening letters demanding money or else they will face a lawsuit. One can imagine that any indiustry coud be threatened, including the ink industry.
PIA is among the groups looking to Congress for legislation to protect companies from this sort of attack, joining Google, Facebook, Macy’s, Wal-Mart and many other groups. Time will tell if Congress can work together to protect companies from these lawsuits.