A Model of Patent Trolls
49 Pages Posted: 28 Oct 2015
There are 2 versions of this paper
A Model of Patent Trolls
A Model of Patent Trolls
Date Written: September 30, 2015
Abstract
This paper develops a model of patent trolls to understand various litigation strategies employed by nonpracticing entities (NPE). We show that when a NPE faces multiple potential infringers who use related technologies, it can gain a credible threat to litigate even when it has no such credibility vis-à-vis any single potential infringer in isolation. This is due to an information externality generated by an early litigation outcome for subsequent litigation. Successful litigation creates an option value against future potential infringers through Bayesian updating. This renders a credible litigation threat against the initial defendant and allows the NPE to extract more rents. We discuss policy implications including the adoption of the British system of “loser-pays” fee shifting and the use of injunctive relief.
Keywords: patent portfolios, patent litigation, non-practicing entities, patent troll
JEL Classification: D430, L130, O300
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation