"With a company that produces something and also sues over patents, there is at least the possibility of a countersuit / crosslicense / armed truce."
Unless you're a startup that just wants to make a good product and isn't interested in spending tens of thousands of dollars acquiring patents on software you think shouldn't even be patented in the first place. Then you have no defense. You also don't have the funds for a protracted legal battle, since you're living on investment capital, or are barely profitable.
I'm not arguing anything about the validity or wisdom of patents. I'm saying the poster (a VC) left out a lot of pertinent information and using the term "patent troll" incorrectly.
It's an interesting item but wrapped in self-serving omission and linkbaity style.
Unless you're a startup that just wants to make a good product and isn't interested in spending tens of thousands of dollars acquiring patents on software you think shouldn't even be patented in the first place. Then you have no defense. You also don't have the funds for a protracted legal battle, since you're living on investment capital, or are barely profitable.