patent trolling

pat·ent troll·ing
UK/ˈpætənt ˌtɹəʊlɪŋ/US/ˈpætənt ˌtɹoʊlɪŋ/

noun

The practice of owning and enforcing patents in an aggressive and opportunistic manner, often with no intention of marketing or promoting the subjects of the patents.

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Meanings

nounpatent trolling (uncountable)
  1. derogatoryinformaluncountableintellectual propertyThe practice of owning and enforcing patents in an aggressive and opportunistic manner, often with no intention of marketing or promoting the subjects of the patents.

Origin

From patent troll, which is derived from patent + troll (“in folklore, a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills, or under bridges”), a reference to trolls in folktales who block the path of travellers or threaten to harm them unless some payment is made.

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Cite this entry
APA

patent trolling. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/patent%20trolling

MLA

“patent trolling.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/patent%20trolling. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “patent trolling,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/patent%20trolling.

Source: patent trolling on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.