[rdl]

Patents aren't like trademarks -- it's not "defend it or lose it".

It's quite reasonable to have a huge patent portfolio of crap patents, keep them around to use as defensive ammunition (to deter being sued, or as a threat when sued), and not to be a punk ass bitch like Yahoo is now by trying to enforce them against a company contributing an order of magnitude (or two, or three) times more value to the world.

Yes, if a patent fails to stand up in court, it is no longer real, but if never use a bogus-but-issued patent, no one really tests its validity.

This action was entirely voluntary on Yahoo's part, which is why they must suffer. Seriously, if anyone competent is left at Yahoo, quit and get a job at a real company. Being an H1B is really the only reason I can imagine staying there, and I'm sure a competent person can find a replacement employer in the current market.