The New Breed of Patent Trolls

The panel discussed the current state of affairs in patent and IP issues, focusing on challenges faced by inventors and businesses. They highlighted that the patent office tends to focus on patents rather than searching for prior art, leading to a high number of granted patents with limited economic value. The issue of patent trolling was also addressed, with suggestions made to drive it to a sustainable nuisance level. The panelists proposed several changes to improve the current system, such as increasing the time given to patent examiners for thorough evaluation and reallocating costs or raising review to prove the value of patents. They also emphasized the importance of preserving the ability to start companies and maintaining a sense of idealism about what patents represent. In terms of moving towards positive changes in patents, one suggestion was providing free lawyers for individuals involved in patent litigation, as the cost of legal representation often influences the outcome of cases more than the merits or demerits of the patents themselves. The panel also touched upon post-grant review and the Oil States case, discussing their potential impact on software patents and the overall patent system.