MPHJ Technology Investments
{{Short description|Waco, Texas-based company}}
{{Infobox company
| name =MPHJ Technology Investments
| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| logo_padding =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| former_name =
| type =
| industry =
| founded =
| founder =
| hq_location =Waco, Texas
| hq_location_city =
| hq_location_country =
| area_served =
| key_people =
| products =
| brands =
| services =
| owner =
| ratio =
| rating =
| website =
}}
MPHJ Technology Investments is a Waco, Texas-based company that has been called the poster child for "patent trolls"{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-06/notorious-patent-troll-mphj-will-ease-tactics-ftc | title=Notorious ‘Patent Troll’ MPHJ Will Ease Tactics: FTC | work=Bloomberg | date=6 November 2014 | accessdate=15 March 2016 | author=Decker, Susan}} due to its practice of suing small businesses for patent infringement for using the scan-to-email function on their own office equipment. The company's argument is that they own the patent for the networked scan-to-email process and so are entitled to payments for each worker at a business that uses this function.{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/01/patent-stunner-under-attack-nations-most-notorious-troll-sues-federal-govt/ | title=Patent stunner: Under attack, nation’s most notorious "troll" sues federal gov’t | work=Ars Technica | date=14 January 2014 | accessdate=15 March 2016 | author=Mullin, Joe}}
Controversial patent activities
MPHJ bought the patents for the scan-to-email function in 2012,{{cite web | url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/11/07/ftc_patent_troll_settlement_mphj_charged_with_deceptive_sales_claims_and.html | title=The FTC Has Settled With America’s Most Notorious Patent Troll | work=Slate | date=7 November 2014 | accessdate=15 March 2016 | author=Griswold, Alison}} and began sending letters to small businesses threatening them with patent infringement lawsuits later that year. In their letters, the company demanded that these businesses pay them a varying amount of money ($9,000 for the smallest business targeted and more for the others).{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/04/meet-the-nice-guy-lawyers-who-want-1000-per-worker-for-using-scanners/ | title=Meet the nice-guy lawyers who want $1,000 per worker for using scanners | work=Ars Technica | date=8 April 2013 | accessdate=15 March 2016 | author=Mullin, Joe}} The company has been targeted by different politicians, including Jim Bruning{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/11/senator-wants-end-to-demand-letters-from-bottom-feeder-patent-trolls/ | title=Senator wants end to demand letters from "bottom feeder" patent trolls | work=Ars Technica | date=8 November 2013 | accessdate=15 March 2016 | author=Mullin, Joe}} and Peter DeFazio, the latter of whom introduced the anti-patent troll SHIELD Act into the House of Representatives. In 2014, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint against MPHJ, and on November 6 of that year, the FTC and MPHJ announced an agreement under the terms of which MPHJ would no longer make deceptive claims.{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-patents-ftc-idUSL1N0SW1ZF20141106 | title=U.S. FTC settles first case in crackdown on 'patent trolls' | work=Reuters | date=6 November 2014 | accessdate=15 March 2016}} In September 2015, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an opinion requiring that MPHJ face charges in Vermont over allegations that it violated that state's consumer protection laws.{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/09/scan-to-e-mail-patent-troll-loses-appeal-cant-avoid-state-court-case/ | title=Scan-to-e-mail patent troll loses appeal, can’t avoid Vermont court case | work=Ars Technica | date=29 September 2015 | accessdate=17 March 2016 | author=Mullin, Joe}}