Law Firm Advertises That It Won't Represent Patent Trolls

from the backlash-time dept

Thu, Mar 13th 2008 6:20am — Mike Masnick

With the growing attention on the issue of "patent trolls" (a term I am not a fan of), it appears that at least one IP law firm is taking a stand. It's come out with an advertisement in which it urges clients not to support any law firm that represents "patent trolls." It's certainly nice to see law firms be upfront about the fact that they believe these types of firms are abusing the patent system, even in such an in-your-face advertising manner. Hopefully tech companies will start asking their lawyers if they represent patent holding firms and will take their business elsewhere if they do. If it becomes a big enough issue, then perhaps lawyers will think twice before representing such firms.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: law firms, patent trolls, patents
Companies: howery

17 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

angry dude welcoming cmte, 13 Mar 2008 @ 6:26am

Will they...
...represent comment trolls?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
angry dude, 13 Mar 2008 @ 6:29am

Awesome
So, they won't represent IBM ?

As far as I know IBM is the biggest patent troll on Earth.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
angry dude welcoming cmte, 13 Mar 2008 @ 6:32am

that's awesome...
... i just had this feeling you were here.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
angry dude, 13 Mar 2008 @ 6:39am

Re: that's awesome...
What kind of feeling ?

Like a tingle in your a$$ ?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Mar 2008 @ 6:47am

Don't feed the troll
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ttrygve, 13 Mar 2008 @ 7:26am

they probably appreciate the "patent trolls"
No matter what they think about the rampant abuse of the patent system, it does create a demand for lots of lawyers for the abuse of the system, but at the same time creates a large demand for plenty of lawyers for the defense. The firm probably doesn't actually care about that issue, it's just smart marketing if you're targeting the defendants.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
THe infamous Joe, 13 Mar 2008 @ 7:46am

Hm...
Maybe he's so angry because he censors himself...? I'd be pretty pissed if all my S's became dollar Sign$... damnit! Now *I'm* angry!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Redbeard, 13 Mar 2008 @ 8:07am

but they represent Verizon
Wasn't Verizon one of the 'patent trolls' that sued Vonage over VoIP patents?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ehrichweiss, 13 Mar 2008 @ 8:09am

Re: Awesome
Proving yet once again that you know absolutely nothing of which you talk about; a patent troll is someone who collects patents and does no actual innovation.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
sean, 13 Mar 2008 @ 8:27am

oh my!
i saw a patent troll once... it was hidding under a bridge, freakin scary a$$ troll!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
It Wasnt me, 13 Mar 2008 @ 9:03am

Re: but they represent Verizon
well 1st you should see whats the official definition for patent troll (i have a feeling you ll find lots of confliting ones)

then see if Verizon applies.

and then you u can try suing them for false advertising.

good luck
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Mar 2008 @ 11:14am

Don't fucking feed the troll
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Mar 2008 @ 11:15am

Really, don't feed the troll
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Mar 2008 @ 11:15am

Nulo illegimaties carborundrum
[ link to this | view in thread ]
notanonymouscoward, 13 Mar 2008 @ 2:56pm

Congress is going after Patent Trolls
Isn't Congress going after Patent Trolls in the Patent Reform bill being considered in the Senate? Sen. Diane Feinstein has specifically called out Patent Trolls in an amendment that would block them in some cases.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MLS, 13 Mar 2008 @ 4:41pm

Howery "Ad"
Nothing more than an advertisement that if you are sued by a "troll", then we are your kind of guys and gals to go to bat for you. Personally, I hate lawyer advertisements and would never use one. They remind me in a way of all the drug ads we see today on television and in print.

What is a bit unsettling, though legal, is the obvious attempt to play off "Ghostbusters", and then to note that the play off "Troll Busters" is officially a service mark of the law firm. There was a time when trademarks were never used by law firms, and that included law firms specializing in patent, trademark, copyright and unfair competition law.

My trademark views by law firms aside, my favorite is still Morrison Foerster's registration and use of the service mark "MoFo".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Patent law firm, 24 Aug 2009 @ 10:21pm

Good post. Had definitely shown different angles in patent wars.
Stacy
[ link to this | view in thread ]