Kentucky Senate Targets Patent Trolls

A bill that would make it harder for companies that hold large numbers of patents to sue for patent infringement when they don’t produce the patented goods has been passed by the Kentucky Senate.

Bill sponsor Sen. Christian McDaniel, a Republican from Taylor Mill, calls this process “patent trolling” and says that it can drive up startup costs for small businesses.

McDaniel says patent trolls have created a profitable business model preying on the intellectual property industry.

Opposition to the measure came from Sen. Ray Jones, a Pikeville Democrat. Jones says the measure could allow large businesses to wrest patent ownership from individual Kentuckians by subjecting them to costly litigation.

The measure passed the Senate 31-7 and now moves to the House.