In the latest blow to patent trolls, 42 state and territorial attorneys general—that's right, 42!—wrote a letter today calling on the Senate to pass meaningful patent reform. As the AGs write:

So-called patent trolls stifle innovation and harm our economy by making dubious claims of patent infringement and using the threat of expensive litigation to extort money from small businesses and nonprofits. We have received many complaints from these businesses and nonprofits, our constituents, who are desperate for relief from the misuse of the patent system. While these threats were once focused on tech businesses, they are now levied at all manner of businesses, including banks, hospitals, restaurants and hotels.

You might remember that states such as Vermont, Nebraska, Minnesota, and New York have long been leaders in the fight to take on patent trolls. They've been particularly effective because they often are in the best position to know the harm their citizens and local businesses are facing. It is encouraging to see nearly every state's attorney general call on the Senate to pass patent reform. We think they are right, and we hope that the United States Senate is listening.