US: Patent troll debate fueled by Mass AG Coakley

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley toured Boston-based startup company LevelUp to discuss the impact of so-called patent trolls and its negative impacts on competition and innovation.

Reports say LevelUp, which allows users to pay through their phones at various merchants, has already struggled to defend itself against such patent litigation, using funds the company says could have been used to expand and hire new employees.

LevelUp CEO Seth Priebatsch told AG Coakley he has “lots of friends” who have had to settle with patent litigators. Others, he said, have had to shut down their businesses.

Patent trolls are the cause of tense debate in recent years as companies cry foul over trolls that acquire patents for the sole purpose of suing the companies that need to use them.

”Patents are good. Patent rolling is not,” Coakley said during her tour.

Congress will hear three pending bills that look to inhibit the practice of such excess patent litigation.

Full content: WBUR

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