Type: article
Abstract: Innovation is vital to societal progress and economic development, yet it often takes place within a complex network of relationships and market dynamics. This study highlights the adverse effects of patent trolls—entities that exploit intellectual property rights to pursue litigation without contributing to technological advancement. Through a comparative case study of GNOME and Valve, two contrasting digital innovators, we examine how they respond to predatory patent assertions by Rothschild, a prominent patent troll. Our findings indicate that these conflicts extend beyond legal disputes, significantly influencing resource allocation, community mobilisation, and organisational strategy within innovation ecosystems. The study therefore emphasises the need to re-evaluate the intellectual property landscape to ensure that it more effectively supports sustainable innovation.
Institutions: Edith Cowan University, National Chengchi University
Language: English
Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7222992555