5th Circuit May Stop Patent Troll "Forum Shopping"

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Friday May 23, 2008 @08:01AM from the small-speed-bumps-in-a-patent-troll's-daily-life dept.

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "Why is a 5th Circuit product liability case getting interest from lawyers all over the country? Because it might put an end to forum shopping by 'non practicing entities' (patent trolls) who prefer to file in the Eastern District of Texas, no matter how little relevance that forum has to their case. Thanks to the rules involving 28 U.S.C. 1404(a) motions and patent cases, people who get sued in Marshall, Texas usually can't get the case transferred elsewhere, even though that forum is seen as unreasonably favorable for patent plaintiffs. But, if the panel of judges in In Re: Volkswagen rules the way some anticipate, that could all change, and there are no less than six amici curiae who have filed briefs arguing both sides of it."

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New order of business by Anonymous Coward · 2008-05-23 08:21 · Score: 5, Funny

1. Patent trolls no longer allowed to forum shop to Marshall, TX.
2. Patent trolls, realizing this, all move to Marshall, TX so they may continue such practice.
3. Marshall has a massive upsurge in interest to the area with all these "big name businesses" moving in.
4. Marshall expands its city services (etc, etc) to accommodate.
5. Patent troll companies that moved to Marshall prove to be shells, not contributing to the city much at all.
6. Marshall collapses under new bogus businesses.
7. ???
8. Profit!