We need a stronger system to buy out patents-- not just software patents-- for the sake of retiring them in the public interest. The risk isn't just "we want 1

We need a stronger system to buy out patents-- not just software patents-- for the sake of retiring them in the public interest. The risk isn't just "we want 10 cents per consumption unit", it's that they have the ability to say "we won't license it for manufacturer ABC or purpose XYZ", and then they can change from being a tollbooth to progress to an actual roafblock. There should be an easy way to blow the whistle-- invite a state mediator who can say "We've calculated a reasonable value of the patent as $x.y million, take an industry-wide collection and come up with that, and the patent is voided."