Dive Brief: 

• A bipartisan bill designed to curb patent trolls, drafted by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), has easily passed the House with a 325-91 final vote.
• The Patent Transparency and Improvements Act, the Senate counterpart, is expected to pass just as easily and is scheduled for hearing on Dec. 17. 
• The House bill seeks to combat patent trolls' behavior by requiring patent assertion entities to be more transparent in seeking licenses, reforming legal pleading so that businesses understand why they are being sued, and shifting legal fees in the event of a false claim. 

Dive Insight: 

This is great news for brands and companies that have fallen victim to patent troll behavior. Being caught up in a frivolous lawsuit ties up funds and resources that could be used in better ways. Additionally, a bill protecting brands from patent trolls will free them up to be more innovative and less worried about stepping into a patent trap.