Members of the North Carolina General Assembly area hearing an increasing crescendo of support from key members of the state’s technology industry to act on “patent troll” legislation.

Helping organize those efforts is the North Carolina Technology Association.

Leading the charge are Cary-based SAS, which has developed software to take on patent trolls – firms that file lawsuits seeking damages for patent infringement that many times are lost or thrown out but still prove costly to the companies being sued – and Red Hat. Red Hat has carried its anti-troll argument to the Supreme Court, fighting against software patents.

Lending support is NCTA, the state’s largest technology organization which lobbies the General Assembly.

In a note to supporters, CEO Brooks Raiford noted that the failure of Congress to pass patent reform legislation makes approval of such laws at the state level even more important.

The N.C. bill has so far received strong support in the House.

“Last week, the US Senate yanked federal patent abuse legislation due to lack of consensus among stakeholders, putting even more of a spotlight on state-by-state initiatives,” Raiford wrote.

“So the timing is right for this exceptional panel and we invite you to be part of it.”

The News and Observer has published an opinion piece by Raiford that argues for passage of the bill.

“During the North Carolina legislature’s 2014 session, its members will consider an important issue affecting North Carolina businesses: patent claims brought by companies that do not produce anything of value or provide a service to the community,” Raiford wrote along with Andy Ellen of the N.C. Retail Merchants Association. “The sole goal of a patent-holding company, also known as a “patent troll,” is to bully North Carolina companies by claiming a patent violation when none actually exists.”

In an attempt to drum up more support, NCTA is putting on a panel discussion on June 16. Speakers include:

  • NC Attorney General Roy Cooper
  • NC State Representative Tom Murry (sponsor of Patent Abuse bill in NC General Assembly)
  • John Boswell, Chief Legal Officer – SAS
  • Matt Johnson, EVP McBee Strategies (former US Senate Judiciary Committee staff)
  • Mitch Mumma, Technology Partner – Intersouth Partners
  • Melanie Chernoff, Government & Community Affairs Manager – Red Hat (Moderator)

The forum will take place at the RTP Foundation headquarters.

Registration is available at the NCTA website.