Michael Corey & Don Sullivan
April 1, 2022
The article discusses the phenomenon of patent trolls and software licensing trolls and how they exploit patent and software licensing systems for profit. Patent trolls are entities that misuse patent infringement claims to extort money from others, while software licensing trolls distort software license contract safeguards for their gain. The rise of software license audits by vendors has provided an opportunity for unscrupulous vendors to weaponize the process and exert control over customers. By including contractual language that allows vendors to revoke software usage privileges and requiring customers to use proprietary scripts or specialized software, vendors can manipulate the audit process. The article highlights the importance of understanding software license agreements and protecting against the tactics of software licensing trolls.
