Like many weapons systems, patents can certainly serve defensively as well as offensively. In this case, defending against others using them as offensive weapons.
Patents can also have some marketing value.
The one thing the do NOT do is universally stop infringement in real time, which is what people think they do.
If you have a new product/technology, a large company that wants to use it will simply go ahead and litigate it later. You will have a ticket to sue them. They'll have their defensive wall of patents, and maybe you'll make a deal and settle out of court. If not, you'll try to stay afloat and if you manage to fund the suit, in 9-15 years after all the appeals, maybe you get a big judgement.
If it's a small or Chinese company, they'll just run with it, you can sue them, if you're lucky, you'll get an injunction to have products seized at the ports by customs, and you'll never collect a penny at the end because the company will be long dissolved. They'll have stolen some of your market with impunity.
Medium-sized companies might actually respect a patent, because they are intending to stay in business, but don't have unlimited resources.
Like many weapons systems, patents can certainly serve defensively as well as offensively. In this case, defending against others using them as offensive weapons.
Patents can also have some marketing value.
The one thing the do NOT do is universally stop infringement in real time, which is what people think they do.
If you have a new product/technology, a large company that wants to use it will simply go ahead and litigate it later. You will have a ticket to sue them. They'll have their defensive wall of patents, and maybe you'll make a deal and settle out of court. If not, you'll try to stay afloat and if you manage to fund the suit, in 9-15 years after all the appeals, maybe you get a big judgement.
If it's a small or Chinese company, they'll just run with it, you can sue them, if you're lucky, you'll get an injunction to have products seized at the ports by customs, and you'll never collect a penny at the end because the company will be long dissolved. They'll have stolen some of your market with impunity.
Medium-sized companies might actually respect a patent, because they are intending to stay in business, but don't have unlimited resources.