The SHIELD Act: troll killer or innovation chiller?

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Cookies Settings

The SHIELD Act: troll killer or innovation chiller?

March 01 2013
troll-doll-45.jpg

This week, US politicians reintroduced a bill that would force patent trolls who sue and lose to cover defendants’ legal costs. Would such a loser pays system reduce frivolous litigation, or is it treating the symptoms of the problem rather than the cause? Alli Pyrah reports

Unlock this content.

The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers.

To unlock this content:

Take a Free Trial or Login

Topics

United StatesNewsPatentsNorth AmericaJurisdictions
more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Patents
Blick auf die Business Bay in Dubai mit den modernen Wolkenkratzern bei Sonnenaufgang
Weekly take: Why AIPPI and INTA’s Dubai problem can’t be easily fixed
AIPPI has pulled the plug on its planned 2027 World Congress, and INTA has seemingly committed to hosting a meeting there, but the concerns won’t abate
Max Walters, May 14 2026
Trademarks
Lazar Raynal.png
King & Spalding scores largest ever Lanham Act award
Despite being outspent by a wealthy opponent, a trial attorney at King & Spalding says ‘relentless pursuit of the truth’ helped his team secure a $420m damages award for mobile gaming client
Sanjana Mishra, May 14 2026
Patents
pharma-min.jpeg
BMS and Hengrui Pharma sign $15.2bn deal as patent cliff nears
190 drugs face loss of exclusivity between 2026 and 2030, with the list including Bristol Myers Squibb’s blood-thinning drug Eliquis and immunotherapy medication Opdivo
Sukanya Sarkar, May 13 2026
Patents
close-up-of-nokia-headquarters-in-espoo-finland_0 (1).jpg
Pro-arbitration turn? Appeals court stays FRAND case against Nokia
Nokia, represented by a team from Bird & Bird, adjudged to have made fair offer to Asus and Acer in UK SEP dispute
Max Walters, May 13 2026
Trademarks
london
Abion’s UK founders depart in quick succession
Azhar Sadique and Kane Ridley, who founded the London office in 2023, are now both working in legal tech and AI-related roles, while another UK-based lawyer has also left
May 13 2026
Trademarks
Magnifying glass emphasizing one glowing figure among group symbolizing focused hiring
Familiar faces: Hoyng expands with double August Debouzy hire
Partner Pierre Pérot rejoins the firm he left in 2022 alongside another returning lawyer, associate Camille Abba
May 11 2026
Trademarks
The Royal Courts of Justice, London.
Court of Appeal overturns unjustified threats injunction in vape TM dispute
Vaping dispute, in which Stobbs and Brandsmiths are the representatives, tested how the UK's Human Rights Act can apply to injunctions restraining unjustified threats
May 08 2026
Patents
ALMERIA, SPAIN - 02 APRIL 2023 A bronze statue of John Lennon sitting and playing the guitar in the Plaza de las Flores in Almeria, Spain
This week on MIP: Samsung to pay ZTE $392m | Lennon v Lemon TM dispute
An AI platform being sold for £40m, and lateral hires involving law firms Womble Bond Dickinson and Cadwell Thomas were among the top talking points
May 08 2026
Trademarks
Big Ben and London underground sign n London, UK
Weekly take: What we learned from INTA 2026
With the London Annual Meeting behind us, we look back at some of the lessons learned this week and ahead to what 2027 will bring
May 07 2026
Patents
WcW Global 680x383 - international network FINAL.png
International networks ‘foundational’ to IP service, despite what data says
In-house counsel aren’t impressed with law firms’ international networks, but practitioners say they are crucial for business
Sukanya Sarkar, May 07 2026
Gift this article