Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A company, person, etc., that owns and enforces patents in an aggressive and opportunistic manner, often with no intention of producing, marketing, or promoting the subjects of the patents.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, informal
Topics: intellectual-property, law, patent-law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
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.
Across languages
18 source translations are retained for this English entry.
