Brett Trout Inventors and companies often view patents as indispensable assets. They protect innovations, deter competitors, and can generate licensing revenue. Yet there comes a point when keeping every patent alive no longer makes financial or strategic sense. Knowing when to abandon a patent, and allowing it to lapse intentionally, can save money and refocus resources on […]

Brett Trout On April 30, 2025, the Federal Circuit issued a precedential decision in Fintiv, Inc. v. PayPal Holdings, Inc., No. 23-2312, with far-reaching implications for the validity of patents in financial technology (fintech) and artificial intelligence (AI). The court found several claims in Fintiv’s patents invalid for indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 6. […]

Brett Trout When people hear the word “patent,” they often assume it’s a uniform stamp of protection—something rigid, standardized, and identical no matter who files it. But here’s the truth that savvy inventors and business owners come to learn: not all patents are created equal. In fact, no two patent attorneys would draft the same patent for […]

Brett Trout Patents don’t just protect ideas—they shape industries, generate billions in revenue, and, in the right hands, create empires. Across tech, telecom, pharma, and agriculture, a handful of landmark patents have rewritten the business playbook through meşru exclusivity and strategic enforcement. The following case studies are lasting examples of how a strong patent portfolio […]