The licensing fees are typically on the order of 1/100th to 1/1000th of what you might have to pay if you lose an infringement case in court. I forget the exact margin, and it varies by circuit, but something Federal court decisions in these cases tend to break in favor of the plaintiff.
It may disappoint you, but no company in their right mind is going to take that gamble.
(IANAL but one of my good friends is a self-confessed patent troll -- in this market, you take what you can get. He explained the whole racket to me over beers one night.)
> The licensing fees are typically on the order of 1/100th to 1/1000th of what you might have to pay if you lose an infringement case in court.
That's exactly my point about how it's currently still cheaper to swat the flies. But they could at least publicly argue for patent reform, and heap scorn on patent trolls, which shouldn't be as expensive.
> IANAL but one of my good friends is a self-confessed patent troll -- in this market, you take what you can get.
If you're really struggling to make ends meet, I can understand resorting to behavior even if you don't agree with it 100%. I'm sure I would steal bread if it were my only alternative to going hungry. But in the bigger picture such people/companies are leeches on the economy and should have their legal weapons (patents) taken away from them.
It may disappoint you, but no company in their right mind is going to take that gamble.
(IANAL but one of my good friends is a self-confessed patent troll -- in this market, you take what you can get. He explained the whole racket to me over beers one night.)