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The way patents are used in the software and technology industry is nothing short of atrocious. It comes down to this-- very large corporations hoard them and use them to nettle major competitors and shut down emerging competitors. Patent holding companies use them to play blackmail schemes against emerging technology after having made zero effort to develop the technology themselves, not producing, not even marketing it to other technology producers. In short, it has become about financial posturing and exploitation at the expense of real development and consumer interests.