Gov. LePage signs 'patent trolls' bill into law that aims to protect businesses
As lawmakers passed several bills recently, it was hit or miss for Gov. Paul LePage, who signed some of them into law while giving others the big ol' veto. One of them, a solar energy development bill, passed into law without the governor's approval (see story here). Another one, referred to as the “patent trolls” bill, found agreement with LePage's pen and joined the “cool kids” table of enacted laws. In Maine Department of Health and Human Services land, new contracts were approved for the MaineCare rides program, but one provider got left out.
No country for 'patent trolls'
With the “patent trolls” bill signed into law, these so-called trolls will have less of a chance harassing and extorting money from Maine businesses. The new law, titled, “An Act Regarding Bad Faith Assertions of Patent Infringement,” will help prohibit bad faith infringement threats perpetrated by patent trolls, according to a press release from the Maine Legislature's Senate Majority Office. The office said these type of infringement threats are perpetrated by patent trolls, people or companies claiming their patent is being infringed upon by a business, and then threaten legal action unless they are paid high licensing fees. Modeled after Vermont legislation, the new law will allow victims of bad faith suits and the Attorney General to take action against patent trolls. Before being signed into law, the bill was sponsored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Anne Haskell, D-Portland.
Dumped for the ride
Coordinated Transportation Solutions, the MaineCare rides provider that was heavily scrutinized for its unreliable service last year, has been left behind after the DHHS didn't award the Connecticut-based firm any of the six contracts it was seeking. The DHHS instead upped its contracts with Atlanta-based LogistiCare to the total of $23.6 million for four regions covering Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Oxford and Washington counties. LogistiCare also had been criticized in 2013 for some unreliable service in York County, but the DHHS found that it had made significant improvements by the end of the year. Penquis Community Action Program won a $6.4 contract to cover Kennebec and Somerset counties. Waldo Community Action program won a $3.8 million contract to cover Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc and Waldo counties. Regions covering Penobscot, Piscataquis and York counties and parts of Oxford County were not up for bid this year. The MaineRides program will cost the state $46 million for 2014–2015, about $6 million more than the current year. The increase was attributed to higher bids from winning contractors.
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