Alan Brite, an ex-Marine awarded a Purple Heart in World War II, has owned his own business for 59 years. He’s not about to take any guff over a new wrinkle in patent law.

A few months ago, his company, Santa Barbara-based Copper Brite, received a letter from a Texas law firm. Brite was being sued over expired patent markings listed on his Roach Prufe anti-vermin powder packaging. The law firm wanted $75,000 to settle out of court.

“I instructed my attorneys to ignore them,” said Brite, who called Patent Group LLC, the group suing him, “extortionists.” “I guess these guys thought they could pull this crap off.”

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