On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 439 into law. The legislation includes language protecting Florida’s businesses, including credit unions, from patent trolls. The legislation creates a private cause of action for a business receiving a demand letter in bad faith from a patent troll. Among the provisions included is a “loser pays” requirement, meaning that a patent troll who loses a lawsuit would be required to not only pay damages, but reasonable attorney’s fees as well.
The League’s Governmental Affairs team was instrumental in the passage of this legislation, reviving the language in the last week of session and helping to secure its passage.