RPX Launches Free Tool to Help SMEs Assess Patent Demand Letters

Online resource for small businesses to learn about the implications of assertion letters they receive

RPX Corporation (NASDAQ: RPXC), the leading provider of patent risk management solutions today launched a free web-based tool to consolidate all patent data relevant to demand letters that non-practicing entities (NPEs) send to small business owners alleging patent infringement. Any small business that receives an assertion letter now has a quick and easy resource to research background on the sender, details on the patents they are accused of infringing, and information on other litigations filed on the same patents or by the same sender. They can begin to identify the potential risks and implications, and evaluate their options before they start paying for legal counsel.

Small businesses increasingly have become targets of NPEs, also known by the “patent troll” moniker. RPX research shows that 61% of the defendants in NPE cases last year had less than $100 million in revenue and 68% were private companies.

“We are pleased to put our substantial database amassed over the past six years to work for small businesses, who currently have no free resource to help assess demand letters, gauge their threat and credibility, or learn about the accusing entity,” said John A. Amster, Chief Executive and Co-founder of RPX. “We hope every business facing this problem takes advantage of this service. The more companies that participate, the more we can increase information transparency that will reduce the cost associated with patent risk.”

Once a letter and related details have been entered into RPX’s central repository, the information is immediately correlated to relevant data that RPX already has collected on the case, revealing current and past histories of the patents and litigations (e.g. length of trial, outcomes, etc.), and about the NPE, including detailed profiles and their engagements in other active litigations. Users also can see further specifics such as what products have been accused and who else has received the same assertion letters. The RPX database also can be used to track future developments as a litigation campaign progresses.

The company also recently launched RPX Search, the first free search engine to provide public access to the most complete database connecting patent, litigation, and entity data in one resource. With RPX Search, any company can quickly and accurately search the company’s proprietary database for patents related to litigations, look up co-defendants in a patent litigation, understand litigation campaigns, and create custom alerts to assess and monitor the potential risk they face from NPEs.

To access RPX Search, please visit: https://search.rpxcorp.com

To access RPX’s Assertion Management tool, please visit: https://search.rpxcorp.com/assertions

As of March 31, 2014, RPX had invested over $810 million to acquire more than 4,300 US and international patent assets and rights on behalf of the 178 members of its client network in seven key sectors: consumer electronics and PCs, E-commerce and software, financial services, media content and distribution, mobile communications and devices, networking, and semiconductors.