> one of the main reasons that patent trolling is so successful is that the cost of settling is smaller even than the cost of winning a suit.
Is the underlying reason for this strategy the low costs of settlement, or the extremely high costs of lawsuits? What if the value of a patent really is only a few thousand dollars?
Note that this very tactic is used by big companies to avoid licensing valid and useful patents owned by smaller entities. Licensing discussions often begin with the potential licensor saying "sue me", or these days, outright suing you first with a Declaratory Judgement. Can an individual afford to take on a large company? Trolls appear to simply be a symptom of this disparity in the market.
Is the underlying reason for this strategy the low costs of settlement, or the extremely high costs of lawsuits? What if the value of a patent really is only a few thousand dollars?
Note that this very tactic is used by big companies to avoid licensing valid and useful patents owned by smaller entities. Licensing discussions often begin with the potential licensor saying "sue me", or these days, outright suing you first with a Declaratory Judgement. Can an individual afford to take on a large company? Trolls appear to simply be a symptom of this disparity in the market.