In September 2013, the FTC launched a study of Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs), which are businesses that acquire patents from third parties and seek to generate revenue by asserting them against alleged infringers. A report on the study was released in October 2016.
Report:
- Patent Assertion Entity Activity: An FTC Study
- FTC Report Sheds New Light on How Patent Assertion Entities Operate; Recommends Patent Litigation Reforms (press release, October 6, 2016)
Participant Materials:
- PAE Study Response Workbook A
- PAE Study Response Workbook B
- PAE Study Information Request A
- PAE Study Information Request B
Related Materials:
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request (Patent Assertion Entity Reports) (Federal Register Notice, May 19, 2014)
- FTC Announces Second Federal Register Notice with Revised Proposed Information Requests for Its Patent Assertion Entity Study; OMB Clearance Requested (press release, May 13, 2014)
- FTC Seeks to Examine Patent Assertion Entities and Their Impact on Innovation, Competition (press Release, September 27, 2013)
- Notice Soliciting Public Comments On Proposed Information Requests To Patent Assertion Entities and Other Entities Asserting Patents In the Wireless Communications Sector, Including Manufacturers and Other Non-Practicing Entities and Organizations (Federal Register Notice, September 27, 2013)
- FR Notice Soliciting Additional Public Comments On Proposed Information Requests To Approximately 25 Patent Assertion Entities, and To Approximately 15 Manufacturing Firms and Non-Practicing Entities Asserting Patents in the Wireless Chipset Sector (Federal Register Notice, May 13, 2014)