A growing network of companies is fighting back against patent trolls

The rapidly changing economic environment in recent years has spurred a wide array of companies to put their patents on the open market for sale.

This in turn has resulted in more patent assertion entities (PAEs), which are often called patent trolls, purchasing the patents and filing lawsuits alleging infringement of them. In 2021 alone, PAEs asserted 1,375 patents in more than 2,400 cases worldwide.

However, a nonprofit called LOT Network is helping companies and their general counsel take proactive steps to fight back via conditional licenses.