Patent trolls, also known as patent assertion entities or non-practicing entities, work by acquiring patents to common processes and technological elements-such as scan-to-email functionality on a copier or an ATM's ability to connect to the Internet-then demanding 'licensing fees' and threatening litigation.
(106.) See Andrew Ramonas,
Patent Troll Bills Moving Up in Senate and House, CORP.
Wikipedia, for example, conflates
patent trolls, non-practicing entities (NPEs) and patent assertion entities (PAEs), defining them collectively as "person or company who enforces patent rights against accused infringers in an attempt to collect licensing fees, but does not manufacture products or supply services based upon the patents in question, thus engaging in economic rent-seeking."
This has opened the door for the rent-seeking activities of
patent trolls, which are typically a non-practicing entity (NPE), which obtains a patent on typically old, broad-based software and computer technologies in the hopes of filing suit later against some entity utilizing the technology (p 8) Trolls typically have no intention of ever operating in the industry.
Despite widespread state action, "
patent troll" cases grow.
When the rhetoric observed by Janis shortly before the modern patent reform efforts and the focus on the
patent troll is compared to the rhetoric examined in Section II.B, one can see that not much has changed at all.
example, assume that Tazjin, Inc., a hypothetical
patent troll, files
How are you different than the
patent trolls targeted by policymakers?
The term
patent troll stirs up considerable debate.