05/24/2017

Supreme Court Ruling Halts "Forum Shopping" in Patent Suits

Many business and tech groups support the ruling

In a significant U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could help limit frivolous lawsuits by so-called “patent trolls,” the court ruled that patent lawsuit plaintiffs must sue domestic companies in the location where they are based. Many business and tech groups support the ruling.

TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods Group Brands, a Supreme Court ruling decided Monday, has nothing to do with the Eastern District of Texas on the surface. But that federal court is where the ruling might be most acutely felt.

That’s because the unanimous decision, which reversed an appeals court ruling, effectively requires plaintiffs in patent cases to bring infringement lawsuits in districts where defendants are incorporated. (The 8-0 ruling did not include Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was not confirmed in time to hear the arguments.)

Please click here to read the complete article from Associations Now.