Its nice to see successful tech companies actually fighting some patents. It makes me sad to see Apple Microsoft IBM etc just pay patent trolls because it is cheaper to do so than defeating the patents.
It's not only that it might be cheaper, it's because it takes out the uncertainty that would be involved in trying to defeat a patent. You have no idea how long the fight will take to wind it's way through the courts or even if you'll ultimately get a ruling in your favor.
Which is why the legal system is an utter failure.
Patent trolls play the probability game which usually results in a net gain because the legal system is failing.
I would say that there should be laws against this but that will result in another loophole or way of making money.
Perhaps I'm a socialist wierdo, but I'd favour scrapping the entire patent process for something which rewards positive contributions to society as a whole rather than who can screw who first. People should be creating things that improve the human condition, not enslave it.
