Main Street Needs Commonsense Patent Reform. Congress Should Pass the CLEAR Act.
The Customer Legal Ease and Relief Act (CLEAR Act) protects businesses of every size from abusive patent litigation — while preserving patent owners’ rights. Urge your representatives to pass this legislation now.
The CLEAR Act
has broad industry support.
Introduced by Representatives Laurel Lee (FL-15) and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), the bipartisan CLEAR Act would create uniform rules for patent disputes nationwide and protect businesses from being sued multiple times over the same product. The CLEAR Act preserves patent owners' rights while ending wasteful litigation that targets Main Street businesses instead of the manufacturers actually responsible for product design and production.
Rep. Laurel Lee
Rep. Zoe Lofgren
How The CLEAR Act Will Help Main Street
Prevents duplicative lawsuits
Courts will stay a patent case against a retailer or end users when the manufacturer is already defending the same product in litigation.
Preserves patent owners' rights
Retailers agree to be bound by the outcome of the manufacturer's case, including any damages or injunctions.
Allows
exceptions
Courts can lift the stay in unusual circumstances where the manufacturer cannot adequately represent the interests at stake.
What Supporters Are Saying
"The CLEAR Act ensures patent owners can enforce their rights against the parties actually responsible for developing products — while protecting end-users from being used as litigation pawns."
Chris Mohr
Co-Chair, United For Patent Reform
"This is a balanced approach to make sure patent disputes involving automotive technology are resolved efficiently with the parties responsible for product design and development."
Hillary Cain
SVP of Policy, Alliance for Automotive Innovation
“This legislation will save countless small retailers from being driven out of business by litigation costs alone.”
Stephanie Martz
Co-Chair, United For Patent Reform