Typology of the Patent Troll Business
Pohlmann, T.; Opitz, M. (2013): Typology of the Patent Troll Business, R&D Management, Volume 43, Issue 2, pages 103–120, March 2013.
28 Pages Posted: 19 Nov 2010 Last revised: 28 May 2013
Date Written: June 2011
Abstract
Patent trolls have many faces, since the media uses this expression in various ways. The patent troll phenomenon thus seems to be an ambiguous term that is discussed in several directions. This paper reveals that a patent troll as such has no distinct shape or appearance. Our analysis redeems a troll classification solely from firms’ market position, such as being non-practicing, and shows that a patent troll business can only be defined by the respective practice to enforce IPR. Using 10 case studies, of which five are treated in detail, the analysis reveals a distinct typology of IPR enforcement mechanisms and suggests a framework to assess the troll business. This paper is furthermore able to identify the nature of troll behavior to be: a) a best practice to enforce IP rights and b) a strategy that may create costs for affected industries. The differentiated troll analysis further reveals negative but also positive effects of the troll business on incentives to innovate.
Keywords: Patent Trolls, Litigation, IPR Enforcement
JEL Classification: L10, L14, L15
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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