Niro may be touted as the real McCoy, but the patent troll procedure seems like it was introduced long before he waltzed onstage. I was reading this book about intellectual monopoly’s negative effects on innovation, and was surprised by the following historical example: In the formative years of our country, (so like the 1790s ish, sorta around when Kant started harping about the inalienable rights of intellectual property), this guy James Watt got his hands on some broad, basic patents related to steam engine technology. He put a lot more effort into running after infringers and not so much into the techdevelopment end, which stifled forward progress for a good chunk of time. Good (or bad…?) stuff.

If you’re interested, the book’s online here: http://www.dklevine.com/general/intellectual/againstfinal.htm
& the IP/innovation idea’s addressed in ch. 8