Week 5 EOC; Patten Troll

Today I learned about "patent trolls" by reading a very interesting article. Many patent lawyers have realized that many stores are not careful with patent numbers, by then being careless it is a big opportunity for them to catch them offering/ selling a product with an expired patent number. For example Mr. Stauffer noticed something very interesting about the bow ties on display at Brooks Brothers: they were labeled with old patent numbers. He sued Brooks Brother in court by claiming that they had broken the law by marking the bow ties with patents that had expired in the 1950’s.  After this story many people started to try and find expire patent numbers in all stores so they could sue the big companies. Everything in the industry must have a patent number that is current from the toothpaste packages to even panty liners for women must have current patent numbers! Patents have a life span of 17 to 20 years to keep them valid all companies must pay all fees every four years. Once it is expired they must remove the patent number for the product and pay for a new one. I think that patent trolls have to do a lot of work to catch a company on a mistake like this. But you never know what could happen if you find one little product that was left on the shelf with an expired patent number you have yourself a case that you could take to court. You can also be a patent troll for online stores! Which I believe would be way easier and faster just looking through all the products online an research the patent number to make sure it is valid and current, with all fees being paid every four years. I look up to the people that are patent trolls all that research and the court paper work. I think it is awesome when they do win a case it is easy money with some hard work.