Patent trolls

Patents are one method that organisations use to protect their intellectual property, generate income and safeguard competitive advantage. An increase in patent litigation could be seen as a good thing as organisations appreciate this and act to enforce the protection of what is rightfully theirs. Unfortunately a recent US study has highlighted that some firms solely exist to amass patent portfolios with the aim of suing cash rich organisations seemingly irrespective of the actual patent infringement. Worryingly, the target organisations seem to react by reducing R&D spending following settling these wrangles.