Topic of patent trolls arises in IBM/GroupOn case

From CNBC story At patent trial, Groupon casts IBM as shaking down other tech companies :



Hadden also questioned McBride about IBM sales to so-called "patent trolls," who hold intellectual property solely for the purpose of filing lawsuits and have been widely criticized in the tech industry.

A lawyer for IBM objected to the questioning, saying it was irrelevant, but the judge instructed McBride to answer.

McBride said IBM was "selective" about who it sells patents to and strikes such deals in part to protect itself from trolls.

"If a patent troll wants to buy a patent from us then we insist on a covenant not to sue IBM," McBride said. "We achieve some level of protection from being sued ourselves."



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