Open Source Patent Troll Explosion

An unfortunate side effect of the success of open source is patent trolls are attacking its beneficiaries more than ever.

The recent report by UnifiedPatents, Defending Open Source: An 2022 Litigation Update, shows patent troll attacks on open source projects are on track for a 100% increase over 2021.

  • As of June 6, patent attacks on open source projects by trolls have already equaled the total for 2021.
  • The top 10 attackers includes some of the best-known trolls including Rothschild-related companies.
  • 71% of all patent cases asserted against open source products are brought by trolls
  • Most targeted companies are well-known technology companies like Google, Samsung, and Apple
  • The invalidation defence used by Unified seems effective. Unified has had a success rate of nearly 90% in its Open Source Zone.