TIGA, the network for games developers and digital publishers, today welcomed the White House’s call for US Congress to introduce legislation to tackle patent trolls. TIGA published a report earlier this week (Trolls, Innovation and Thermonuclear War, TIGA, 2014) that showed whilst patent trolls are not common in the UK, when they do strike UK businesses they can inflict significant damage on high technology businesses, including games developers.
The Obama administration revealed on Thursday that patent trolls had threatened 100,000 companies in 2013 and accounted for 62 per cent of all infringement lawsuits. The White House also announced some new initiatives to enhance the patent system, including providing patent help to inventors who do not have access to lawyers.
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
“It is encouraging to see patent troll legislation moving up the political agenda in the USA. For UK games businesses, selling in the USA is important because it is the world’s biggest market. TIGA’s own research indicates that lawsuits for accidental patent infringement present a potential danger to any company whose software products are distributed in the USA and that UK games businesses potentially run the risk of being sued for patent infringement by a US patent troll. TIGA hopes that President Obama and the US Congress can achieve effective reform of the patent system and so minimise the threat of patent trolls.”
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About TIGA
TIGA is the trade association representing the video game industry. We help developers and digital publishers build successful studios, network with the right people, save money and access professional business advice. We also have outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. Since 2010, TIGA has won 16 business awards. TIGA focuses on three sets of activities:
- Political representation
- Media representation
- Business services
This enhances the competitiveness of our members by providing benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities. It also means our members’ voices are heard in the corridors of power and positively represented in national, broadcast and UK video game trade media.
Get in touch:
Tel: 0845 468 2330
Email: info@tiga.org
Web: www.tiga.org
Twitter: @TIGAMovement
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TIGAMovement
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/tiga
For Further information, you can also contact:
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939 643, or email: richard.wilson@tiga.org
Drew Field, TIGA Communications Director on: 07720 643 344, or email: drew.field@tiga.org