Most innovations happen in small companies. When they happen to develop a successful product and patent it, frequently a larger company just steals the idea and

Most innovations happen in small companies. When they happen to develop a successful product and patent it, frequently a larger company just steals the idea and develops their own product. As a small company there really is not much you can do about it. Legislation is hugely expensive. Because most large companies have a huge patent portfolio they will probably be able to show that you are infringing on their patents so you are not very likely to win the case. If you are very lucky they will take over your company or offer you some money. The only real alternative is to stop producing and become a patent troll that sues other companies that use your invention (but that still requires a lot of money). In theory, patents could be useful, but in the current situation there are far too many patents for completely trivial things.