The alleged trend of patent warfare has resulted in the creation of a JV entity called ‘Rockstar’ (by Sony, Apple, Microsoft and Ericsson).
These huge global companies formed this super global venture with a singular purpose, that of discovering patent misuse by competitors. These competitors then become the target of extensive litigation (or of course paying for their infringement)
Internationally patents have become a commodity and the original intent of granting a patent in the first place, has long been replaced and patents are weapons to defend extreme capitalism and empower global companies to grow larger instead of fostering and developing technology.