A cross-industry coalition of 50 organizations, including the American Hospital Association, has sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging action to confront patent assertion entities, also known as patent trolls.
According to the letter, since 2005 patent trolls have sued more than 7,000 businesses, small and large, and cost the U.S. economy $80 billion in 2011.
The letter stated: "We seek reforms to the current system that would significantly curb trolls' ability to extort settlement demands from retailers, technology companies, small businesses, financial services institutions, state and local government entities and many others who are today the targets of their outrageous claims."
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