Definition
Patent troll is the company that acquires patents solely to sue other companies for infringement. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.
In the room
How the word shows up in a real conversation.
In a Monday review, someone writes Patent troll on the board and restates it: “Company that acquires patents solely to sue other companies for infringement.” The next move is a test, a cut, or a double-down — not another debate about the word.
Common mistake
Using Patent troll as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.
See also
Ownership structure
Legal framework that defines how a business is owned and controlled.
Read definition →
Partnership
Business relationship where two or more parties share ownership and profits.
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Payback period
Time required for an investment to recover its initial cost through cash flows.
Read definition →
Payroll
Process of calculating and distributing employee wages and salaries.
Read definition →
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