Patent trolls have become a serious issue in the real estate industry. REALTORS® across the country have received threatening letters, and even faced lawsuits alleging patent infringement, for the use of common business tools, such as drop-down menus, search-alert functions on websites, and the scanner function on a photocopier.
Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation successfully worked to include an additional $250M in federal appropriations for the construction of rail. The U.S. Senate and House appropriations committees included the funding in both of their Fiscal Year 2016 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bills.
The National Association of REALTORS® issued a Call For Action to support H.R.9, The Innovation Act, legislation that would close loopholes in the legal system that currently allow patent trolls to target REALTORS® for using common business technologies, such as dropdown menus and search functions on websites, or scan-to-email technologies found in every office scanner.
The purpose of Bill 22 is to amend the Land Use Ordinance (LUO) relating to Transient Vacation Rentals (TVR).
The amendments would:
- Require advertisements for vacation rentals (Transient Vacation Units and Bed and Breakfasts) to include certain information that would facilitate the city’s efforts to enhance the regulations of vacation rental operations and improve enforcement measures targeting illegal vacation rentals in residential and other districts;
Mayor Kirk Caldwell has extended an invitation to REALTORS® attend the “Heroes Housing Heroes” event Thur., July 9, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Mission Memorial Auditorium, located next to Honolulu Hale on the grounds of the Honolulu Civic Center at 550 South King Street.
