'Patent trolls' target automakers, and Ford Motor is righting back

摘要

Ford Motor Co. was sued for patent infringement more than a dozen times between 2012 and 2014, but not by jilted suppliers or rival automakers. It was the "patent trolls." These outfits, also known as patent assertion companies, don't make products. Instead, they buy patents and file lawsuits to allege misuse of intellectual property, winning billions of dollars in licensing fees and court judgments.