If I were a young and enterprising lawyer (I am not, I am programmer), I would sell companies bullied by patent trolls legal defense for 90% of the sum being blackmailed.
Companies that "took advantage of this program" would be entitled to everything included legal defense in future demand arising from not yielding to the patent trolls.
Startups would only pay 90% of the extorted sum, and also have the advantage of not giving in and helping perpetuate the trolls' scheme.
I as a lawyer would earn a lot of income but would only have to defend in court a small number of app developers actually being sued.
I think something like this would work because what really intimidates small entrepreneurs is not losing the case in court, but just the onerous weight of fighting the case, no matter its outcome.
The community would benefit from patent trolls earning less money.
Finally, I know that there is a chance that patent trolls would litigate against each and every one refusing to give in. But in that case they would be DoSing themselves.
As a young lawyer, you wouldn't have the experience or resources to fight back effectively. The trolls' lawyers would know this, and they might be more likely to litigate as a result.
Comments
If I were a young and enterprising lawyer (I am not, I am programmer), I would sell companies bullied by patent trolls legal defense for 90% of the sum being blackmailed.
Companies that "took advantage of this program" would be entitled to everything included legal defense in future demand arising from not yielding to the patent trolls.
Startups would only pay 90% of the extorted sum, and also have the advantage of not giving in and helping perpetuate the trolls' scheme.
I as a lawyer would earn a lot of income but would only have to defend in court a small number of app developers actually being sued.
I think something like this would work because what really intimidates small entrepreneurs is not losing the case in court, but just the onerous weight of fighting the case, no matter its outcome.
The community would benefit from patent trolls earning less money.
Finally, I know that there is a chance that patent trolls would litigate against each and every one refusing to give in. But in that case they would be DoSing themselves.
As a young lawyer, you wouldn't have the experience or resources to fight back effectively. The trolls' lawyers would know this, and they might be more likely to litigate as a result.