Patent trolls are becoming an increasingly serious problem.

According to a report from Boston University representatives, patent trolls (for the most part, companies that produce nothing but use their patents to attack other companies) are becoming an increasing problem. In addition to the money that such companies often sue, such companies, patent trolls also often hamper the development of technology. The sums of the claims are such that small and medium-sized companies sometimes simply cannot pay the claimant the amount set by the court, and declare themselves bankrupt.

It’s no joke - in 2011, patent trolls made companies of all kinds pay about $ 29 billion (here not only the sums paid by the respondents, but also various related payments). The study showed (although it is understandable without it) that large corporations often behave no better than patent trolls. There are Apple c Samsung, Google and other companies.

As mentioned above, lawsuits are often brought against companies that have just created something innovative, and they are going to launch something on the market. Trolls also inhibit this process, causing bankruptcy of companies and the inhibition of the scientific and technical process.
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In 2011 alone, about 5842 trials initiated by patent trolls took place. How many such processes we will see this year is unclear. Every year the amount paid by patent trolls, with attendant legal costs, increases. So, in 2005, the companies paid about $ 6.7 billion to patent trolls. In 2008, the same amount amounted to 12.6 billion dollars. And already last year, 29.2 billion dollars were spent on patent trolls and courts.

The authors of the study believe that the current patent system should be reviewed and revised in accordance with modern conditions. Otherwise, innovative technologies will appear less frequently, and develop more slowly.

Via cnet