Patent trolls harm small businesses trying to innovate
Skillicorn, ideatovalue.com chief editor and founder 16
[Nick Skillicorn, ideatovalue.com chief editor and founder, 8-31-16, Inc., “How the Current Patent System Actually Hurts Inventorsm,” , accessed: 7-11-24, ES]
I want to get this out of the way right now.
Because it's the most depressing part of the patent system, and is actually hurting small companies trying to build innovative new businesses.
The problem is that the system allows companies to get patents to which they are not actually entitled.
And then use those patents to sue other companies who are actually working in that space!
These companies are called "Patent Trolls".
They are usually shell corporations, that either file for a whole host of incredibly vague patents under the hope that some of them will be approved, or by buying up other vague patents.
They then use these vague, fraudulent patents to sue companies which are small enough to not be able to defend themselves, or companies who will just want to settle immediately. The troll companies themselves do not produce anything, and so cannot be counter-sued.