word
Legal
Patent Troll
PAY-tent TROL
/ˈpeɪtənt trɒl/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
PAYtentTROL
Dictionary meaning
A pejorative term for a person or company that acquires patents not to produce goods or services but primarily to enforce them against alleged infringers, typically through litigation or licensing threats.
Examples
- The startup received a demand letter from a notorious patent troll seeking royalties.
- Patent trolls have been blamed for stifling innovation in the tech sector.
Synonyms: non-practicing entity, NPE, patent assertion entity
Pronunciation tips
The formal/neutral term is 'non-practicing entity' (NPE) or 'patent assertion entity' (PAE).
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