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ARTICLE · 27 AUGUST 2013

Further Trouble For Patent Trolls

Fox Rothschild LLP
Fox Rothschild LLP
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In what has been described as a "first of its kind" settlement, a so-called patent troll, MPHJ Technology Investments, LLC ("MPHJ"), has allegedly agreed to an "assurance of discontinuance" with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office regarding its patent enforcement efforts in the State of Minnesota.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Scott R. Bialecki
Scott R. Bialecki
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In what has been described as a "first of its kind" settlement, a so-called patent troll, MPHJ Technology Investments, LLC ("MPHJ"), has allegedly agreed to an “assurance of discontinuance” with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office regarding its patent enforcement efforts in the State of Minnesota. Pursuant to the agreement, MPHJ has agreed to “cease its patent enforcement campaign” in Minnesota and not resume such activities without the AG’s consent.  Further, MPHJ cannot assign the patents-at-issue to any third party who does not agree to be bound by such terms.

The settlement was allegedly the result of investigations stemming from mass mailings threatening patent infringement against several small businesses in Minnesota.  Interestingly, this is the same law firm and patent troll that the Attorney Generals’ Offices in Vermont and Nebraska dealt with over the last year.

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