SIIA Applauds Congressional Commitment to Fight Patent Trolls; Calls for Congressional Action to End Abusive Litigation
For Immediate Release
SIIA Communications Contact: Laura Greenback, +1.410.533.1943,
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SIIA Applauds Congressional Commitment to Fight Patent Trolls; Calls for Congressional Action to End Abusive Litigation
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 13, 2013) — The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, today applauded the House Judiciary Committee for addressing the pressing problem of abusive patent litigation. SIIA member companies Adobe Systems, Inc. and SAS Institute Inc. will testify at today’s hearing, held by the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet.
"Without federal action, patent trolls will continue to damage the economy, hurt America’s tech industry and threaten innovation,” said SIIA President Ken Wasch. “Today’s hearing is important for drawing attention to the harmful effects of patent trolls. We are hopeful that policymakers will work together to enact sensible changes – such as the SHIELD Act – that will help curb to abusive patent troll litigation. Through this and other proposals, such as efforts to shift the burden of costs when one party is seeking discovery that goes well beyond what is necessary, SIIA is committed to working with Congress and the Administration to find effective solutions to the problem.”
Wasch continued, “The one thing that is clear is that patent trolls are doing real and significant damage to American businesses. Abusive lawsuits brought by patent trolls have cost the U.S. economy $500 billion over the last 20 years, and the annual costs of these patent assertions have increased 500 percent since 2005 to more than $29 billion each year. That’s money that would be far better spent on efforts to hire more tech workers, advance American research and development efforts or invest in new technologies.”
View Adobe and SAS’s testimony.
About SIIA
SIIA is the leading association representing the software and digital content industries. SIIA represents approximately 700 member companies worldwide that develop software and digital information content. Information technology (IT) and software security are critical issues to SIIA’s members, many of whom strive to develop safe, secure and state-of the-art products that effectively serve their commercial and government customers alike, while protecting their intellectual property. For more information, visit www.siia.net.