State Laws Fighting Patent System’s ‘Dark Underbelly’ Put to Test

Laws against bad-faith demands meant to coerce patent payments from businesses face one of their first big legal tests, which could signal how far more than 30 states can go in enforcing them.

Washington state’s suit against Landmark Technology A is a “really good test case” for state attorneys general enforcing the laws, all of which have been passed in just the past eight years, said Rachael Lamkin, founder of Lamkin IP Defense.

The suit claims Landmark violated Washington’s Patent Troll Prevention Act. Filed last month in Washington state court, the suit accuses Landmark of using “predatory” tactics and sending ...