The FTC should "examine the practices of patent assertion entities (PAEs) that wrongfully target endnusers" and use its authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act if it uncovers unfair and deceptive practices, 18nHouse lawmakers told FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez in a Friday letter (http://1.usa.gov/15TuUMQ). Thenletter — sent by Reps. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, and Judy Chu, D-Calif., and signed by members includingnReps. Zoe Lofrgen, D-Calif., Jared Polis, D-Colo., Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah —ncited examples of PAEs targeting "end users who are the downstream users of technology," includingn"individual consumers, non-profits, local governments, and small to large businesses." In a statementn(http://1.usa.gov/18cfgAs), Chu urged the FTC to get involved, saying the agency "has a role to play in ensuringnevery American consumer is protected from those who use wrongful business practices to make anquick buck.” An update to the patent system is needed "to protect end users from these abusive and costlynlawsuits, [or else] patent trolls will continue to stifle American innovation and job creation," Farenthold saidnin a statement. The FTC could not confirm that it had received the letter.
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