Famous for hiding behind thousands of shell companies, it spawned Lodsys, the troll that
harassed small app developers, and the Oasis Research litigation featured in This American Life.
As you probably know, we've been closely following the Lodsys mess and watching as the patent troll asserts its patents against companies large and small, and — famously and most egregiously —
against small app developers.
Whatever else it turns out to be, it'll be a boon for
the small app developer who has had a hard time getting our attention up till now.
The trolling problem, which involves shell companies using old patents to extort everyone from major companies to
small app developers, has become especially acute in recent years.
In Apple's view, its license should shield
the small app developers.