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Patent trolling is a practice engaged in by a patent holder who asserts patent rights against alleged infringers but does not itself use the patents it owns to produce products or services of value. The practice is widely viewed as objectionable because some entities develop or acquire patents with the express intention of using them in this way, in effect seeking to extract rent payments from companies and individuals who attempt to put the creative content of the patent to productive use. Patent trolling is viewed as interfering with economically productive activity for the purpose of financial gain.