Newsroom

February 24, 2015

CUs need relief from patent trolls, Hunt tells panel

NAFCU reiterated credit unions' growing concerns about patent-trolls' demand letters and the need for legislative relief in a letter Tuesday to a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee from Carrie Hunt, the association's senior vice president of government affairs and general counsel.

Hunt, writing to Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Chairman Michael Burgess, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., thanked the panel for scheduling a hearing tomorrow on this issue. She recounted the concerns of credit unions in receipt of letters from patent assertion entities stating "vague" or "hypothetical" theories of infringement. Those letters are aimed at coercing businesses into financial settlements to avoid costly, potentially drawn-out litigation.

Legislation is needed "to alter the intimidating business model used by these patent assertion entities," Hunt said, adding that NAFCU will continue to support Congress' efforts to curb such activity.

The subcommittee's hearing, "Update: Patent Demand Letter Practices and Solutions," is slated for 10:15 a.m. Thursday.