NPEs (Non-Practicing Entities)

Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs), often called patent trolls, are organizations that own patents but do not produce products or services based on them. Instead, they seek to generate revenue by licensing these patents or suing companies for patent infringement. Their primary goal is monetary gain through legal claims rather than innovation or manufacturing. Critics argue that NPEs can hinder technological progress and unfairly target businesses, while supporters claim they protect patent rights. Overall, NPEs play a controversial role in the intellectual property landscape, focusing on patent monetization rather than practical application.