Inc. has a great article on patent trolls. Although it doesn’t add much new information it is a good background piece.
An interesting fact presented in the article is that although only 13% of the cases decided by the courts are won by the trolls. However, 90 % of the cases are settled before going to trial. Small businesses are more likely to settle and avoid legal bills than to try their day in courts – thus feeding the trolls.
The article tells about a US company owner who stood up to the trolls and won – costing him only about 50.000 $ – which is a lot but much less than most people think.
So the lesson here is get aggressive and go trollhunting