Over the last few years, the tech sector has seen a shocking increase in activity by litigious, so-called patent trolls. These are companies who specialize not in inventing and producing things, but filing dubious patent infringement lawsuits. Their strategy is to bully true creators and innovators—say, podcasters like Adam Carolla—into settlements through the threat of huge legal bills. The SHIELD Act would balance out the system by requiring patent trolls to pay for these legal bills if they lose in court because the patent is found to be invalid or there is no infringement.

As of Friday morning, more than 7,500 people have sent letters to their members of Congress through EFF’s Action Center. Powerful groups like the Consumer Electronics Association have signed on to the legislation. Podcasters Marc Maron and John Hodgman deserve extra special props for leading the charge on the Twittersphere. Now Politico is reporting that the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next Thursday.