Exactly, I agree with proportions, but these large companies can be smart and slimy. What's to keep them from forming, acquiring, or partnering a smaller entity just to keep from paying less. If a small guy gets a call from Apple saying "Hey we want to partner with you and will share a percentage of revenues if the patent is approved" - that small guy will be inclined to indepedent file the patent for the partnership between his firm and Apple - and if the fees are proportioned he won't pay much. Proportioning is also my favorite idea but there has to be a way to seal the loopholes because large firms will try to find a way around it.
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Exactly, I agree with proportions, but these large companies can be smart and slimy. What's to keep them from forming, acquiring, or partnering a smaller entity just to keep from paying less. If a small guy gets a call from Apple saying "Hey we want to partner with you and will share a percentage of revenues if the patent is approved" - that small guy will be inclined to indepedent file the patent for the partnership between his firm and Apple - and if the fees are proportioned he won't pay much. Proportioning is also my favorite idea but there has to be a way to seal the loopholes because large firms will try to find a way around it.