MLchartDataset catalogue

Patent troll

Term · Law · MLC-T-LAW-003661

A non-practicing entity (NPE) that acquires patents not to manufacture or use the inventions, but primarily to enforce the patent rights against alleged infringers through litigation. These entities generate revenue by demanding licensing fees or winning infringement lawsuits, often targeting a large number of companies with broad patent claims. The term is pejorative and contrasts with entities that enforce patents to protect their own commercialized products.

Table 1. Record
IdentifierMLC-T-LAW-003661
FieldLaw
Record as JSON 
{
  "id": "MLC-T-LAW-003661",
  "term": "Patent troll",
  "field": "Law",
  "definition": "A non-practicing entity (NPE) that acquires patents not to manufacture or use the inventions, but primarily to enforce the patent rights against alleged infringers through litigation. These entities generate revenue by demanding licensing fees or winning infringement lawsuits, often targeting a large number of companies with broad patent claims. The term is pejorative and contrasts with entities that enforce patents to protect their own commercialized products.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/law/patent-troll/"
}

Record 3,666 of 5,441 in Law terminology (MLC-0107). Request the full dataset.