[mindslight]

An alternative process to fix the problem would be to pressure supposed "defensive only" companies to put that promise in writing by offering universal defensive-only patent grants akin to the GPL. Named inventors could even push that change at their own company, in exchange for going on record that their implementation actually counts as an 'invention'.

[shmerl]

To fix this problem, software patents need to be abolished as a practice damaging for society and innovation. While they exists, they'll be abused by trolls.

[mindslight]

I certainly don't disagree - I was just addressing the specific problem of companies convincing themselves/employees that their patents are only for 'defensive purposes', and then suffering a change of priorities. If the company legally commits to defensive-only use, then there can be no change of heart later; as such, employees that take issue with supporting a given patent as a bona fide invention should push for such a committal rather than relying on non-binding promises.

[shmerl]

That's true. In some cases this happens, for example members of OIN have legal obligations not to use patents against each other at least. But I'm not sure there is any company that took a solid legal obligation not to be a patent aggressor in general.

[moonchrome]

You can view patent trolls as the unsung heroes pointing to the inherent flaws of the system :)