What if the startup uses a scorched-earth policy? Fight 'til the money runs out, liquidating your assets and closing down the business piece by piece, then if the troll wins, they get nothing because it's all been spent on lawyers and there's nothing left for them to take.
Then the startup loses. The troll assumes that the startup is rational and won't do that.
It would be interesting to see what effect a VC could have if they started a policy of not allowing their portfolio companies to settle with a troll and funding them to fight. It might be expensive at first, but in theory once they develop a reputation the trolls will know it will be an expensive and risky proposition to go after their portfolio.
