A draft bill that would narrow the conditions...

A draft bill that would narrow the conditions under which patent “demand letters” may be sent for alleged infringements was released by House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Lee Terry, R-Nev., Tuesday. Demand letters would be found to be “deceptive and unfair” under the Federal Trade Commission Act if a “civil action” for an alleged infringement has already been taken against other parties. Demand letters would have to be sent by the rightsholder of the patent, and couldn’t “preempt” state law.