Some companies call them “patent trolls”— others call them far worse. Academics and government officials prefer a more neutral term, such as “patent assertion entities” (PAEs). But whatever they are called, these entities have a large—and growing—impact on all types of businesses around the country.
Throughout the past five years, PAEs have become dramatically more active. They now file the majority of the nation’s patent infringement suits. PAEs also have greatly expanded the types of businesses they target.
