Over the past two years, the “patent troll” debate has moved from patent law circles to the public eye. Stories of coffee shops receiving letters claiming infringement and demanding settlement money to avoid costly litigation are everywhere, and Congress is presently considering several pieces of legislation. In the midst of such turmoil, one question should drive the discussion: How much can Congress alter our patent litigation system before it undermines innovation in the United States and the past and future innovations that rely on it?
