Taking the Battle Against Patent Trolls To the Public

First time accepted submitter presspass writes "A group of technology and retail groups is beginning a national ad campaign targeting so-called patent trolls. The Internet Association, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation and Food Marketing Institute Patent trolls — a term known more among geeks than the general public — are about to be the target of a national ad campaign. Beginning Friday, a group of retail trade organizations is launching a radio and print campaign in 17 states. They want to raise awareness of a problem they say is draining resources from business and raising prices for consumers."

Comments

Re:They're not trolls

[jbolden]

Of course they are trolls. The definition of patent troll is clear cut:

a) Owns a patent
b) Didn't do the work personally
c) Doesn't make products using the patent.

Re:They're not trolls

[Zontar The Mindless]

The Constitutional rationale for patents is not monetisation, that's why:

[Article 1, Section 8:] To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.

Now please inform us as to how patent trolls promote the progress of science and/or useful arts.

...

(Warning--Spoiler ahead:) They don't.

Re:They're not trolls

[joss]

If the only way to monetise the invention is to sell it to a patent troll then it does not deserve any money.

The only way a patent troll makes money is if someone willing to actually make the thing has the same (usually pretty obvious) idea so the original 'invention' offered zero value to society.

Said as someone with a few patents ( http://www.patentmaps.com/inventor/Jocelyn_M_Earl_1.html )