Those who knowingly violate a known patent makes them responsible for treble damages. This applies much more in the realm of software, because of the idiocy of

Those who knowingly violate a known patent makes them responsible for treble damages. This applies much more in the realm of software, because of the idiocy of things like the XOR mouse patent, Amazon 1-Click, and many other obvious 'inventions' that aren't, but were provided patent protection.