Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., urged FCC acting Chairwoman...
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., urged FCC acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn to address the issue of patent assertion entities which he said are targeting telcos that provide 911 emergency response capabilities, in a letter made public this week. Cardin said some…
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PAEs are exploiting the mandatory nature of the FCC’s E-911 regulations “by claiming that the use of technologies, systems, or methodologies necessary to provide E911 services (and very soon [next-generation 911] services) in order to comply with the FCC standards is the cause of alleged infringement,” said the letter. “This litigation practice forces wireless carriers and E911 service providers into the dilemma of facing the unacceptable consequences of violating (or being party to violating) FCC licensing standards or being adjudicated as a patent infringer.” The allegations are “one of the most worrisome examples of the types of abusive patent litigation models,” said Cardin. “It deserves our highest attention.”