Call them trolls, aggregators, sharks, or what they actually are — nonpracticing entities (NPEs) — groups that snap up patents with the intent of leasing them to other firms are bringing big money. Groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have identified them as a significant threat to online speech as well as overall American innovation, and they're also a potential hazard to consumers who bear the brunt of frivolous lawsuits that drive down the quality of goods and services while driving the costs up. Many people seem to agree the patent system is broken, but they can't agree on the relative evil of NPEs, and the best way to reform patents.
