The patent trolls in the US, including some of the biggest ones, are collapsing

Summary: Amid weakening of patent 'assertion' firms (trolls) and tightening of patent scope, the biggest and most infamous trolls feel the crunch

HIDDEN behind a paywall is this report about RPX (see our Wiki page about RPX for background). It looks as though RPX is collapsing (or almost going private) and "John Amster [the man behind RPX] has resigned as the chief executive officer of RPX in response to a request from its board of directors. Marty Roberts, the company's general counsel since 2010, has taken over as interim CEO."

Firms typically attempt to go private when they are trying to hide something, and usually it's financial woes.

This latest development was covered here the other day, after IAM had repeatedly mentioned it. It sure looks like USPTO reforms have killed or seriously weakened a lot of patent trolls recently (we named some). WiLAN, which operates much like a patent troll, continues to amass patents, but Jim Skippen and folks are said to be "one of the biggest NPEs in the market — possibly only eclipsed by Intellectual Ventures," which is actually shrinking (layoffs in recent years and partial departure of founder; see our Wiki page for chronology).

The only growth area for trolls these days is the far East, notably China. IAM continues to track developments there, eager to write more and more about the same abusive entities that are funding it. ⬆