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The correct course of action in situations like this is to name and shame.
by Teever 2y ago
The correct course of action in situations like this is to name and shame.
- rcxdude 2y agoHow does that help? A patent troll doesn't really have any reputation to protect.
- toasterlovin 2y agoWould the bar association in the lawyer’s state be interested?
- unyttigfjelltol 2y agoOther than to commend the entrepreneurial sprit of its members?
- sejje 2y agoWhy, is it illegal? It's for sure scummy, but from what I've read about patent trolls, usually they get to continue until they eventually run into someone principled (and bankrolled) and then they lose their patent due to prior art in many cases. I've never heard of them getting in actual trouble.
- Teever 2y agoIf legal consequences aren't a possible avenue to prevent unacceptable behaviour from someone then a viable alternative is to make that person a pariah. The more people know that someone is doing unscrupulous things the more people can choose to not do business with that person or interact with them in a friendly matter. Ideally this would lead to a scenario where they lose the means to continue to do unacceptable things and they would be forced to stop.
- antasvara 2y agoThe point here is that a patent troll isn't really a "business." There would be no real reason to work with the patent troll outside of the extortion they're using the patent for. Given the options for engagement are "settle or be sued," a friendly approach was never really an option. Given these parameters, how would making them a pariah change the functioning of the business?
- Teever 2y agoThey have lives outside of their way of making money. They have friends, family, a community that they belong to. Affecting their relationship with those things hurts them. I'm kind of confused why 'name and shame' requires such an in-depth explanation. Patent trolls arent the first kind of social parasite to exist and their parasitism doesn't render them immune to all forms of pressure. Social pressure is often one of the most effective ways of pressuring someone.
- phendrenad2 2y agoMany times the lawyers involved have private practices or work at a firm that handles other, non-patent-trolling, cases. If word gets out that the firm's members are moonlighting as patent troll facilitators, it could impact their business.