My problem with patent-overload is that it's turned into a protection scheme. Big company approaches me and my little company and says,
"We think we have some patent issues".
And I say, "Really? Unlikely, we wrote everything from scratch."
And they reply, "How much money did you make last year?"
And I ask, "What's the got to do with anything?"
And they say, "do you know how much it will cost you to defend against our claims? So you can license for this sum now or pay 100 times that to your lawyers."
Guess what I do?
It's the same with patent trolls. Although they usually wait until you have a product to go after.
"We think we have some patent issues".
And I say, "Really? Unlikely, we wrote everything from scratch."
And they reply, "How much money did you make last year?"
And I ask, "What's the got to do with anything?"
And they say, "do you know how much it will cost you to defend against our claims? So you can license for this sum now or pay 100 times that to your lawyers."
Guess what I do?
It's the same with patent trolls. Although they usually wait until you have a product to go after.