CEA Calls on All Americans to Support SHIELD Act

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regarding today’s hearing on abusive patent litigation held by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, the following statement is attributable to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^®:

“By imposing real and appropriate costs for lawsuit abuse, the SHIELD Act destabilizes the patent trolls’ business model since they do not manufacture or use the patents, but only use them to aggressively file lawsuits.”

“CEA is standing up for our members, for startups and for innovation by asking lawmakers to support the bipartisan Saving High-Tech Innovators from Egregious Legal Disputes (SHIELD) Act, introduced by Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) last month. Many small businesses and startups, including some of our members, cannot afford to fight or continue to get funding for their business when faced with abusive patent litigation from so-called ‘patent trolls.’ Under the SHIELD Act, if the non-practicing entity (NPE) or patent troll loses in court, it pays the other side’s legal fees.

“By imposing real and appropriate costs for lawsuit abuse, the SHIELD Act destabilizes the patent trolls’ business model since they do not manufacture or use the patents, but only use them to aggressively file lawsuits.

“Current law encourages unethical patent trolls. In order to foster American jobs and innovation, we need to change laws that promote unjustified and distracting legal threats to our nation’s businesses. The SHIELD Act will help keep the patent trolls beneath the proverbial bridge and prevent them from serving as roadblocks to economic growth and continued innovation. We stand with the authors of the SHIELD Act and urge Congress to pass this important legislation as soon as possible.”

Shapiro wrote on this topic for CEA Digital Dialogue today, and in recent op-ed for Forbes.com. Additionally, to gain legislative attention for the issue, CEA’s Innovation Movement is calling on all Americans to support the SHIELD Act. To take action, constituents can text the word “TROLLS” to 52886 to contact their member of Congress about the SHIELD Act.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $209 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online: www.CE.org and www.DeclareInnovation.com. Follow CES at www.CESweb.org and through both CEA and CES social media channels.

About CEA:

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