"The Patent Scam" highlights the many challenges frivolous patent litigation poses for business owners and entrepreneurs, juxtaposing their stories of struggle against interviews with lawyers and patent trolls who are benefiting from these loopholes in our patent system. Non-practicing entities (NPEs) purchase vague, low quality patents - many of which should never have been granted in the first place - to claim ownership of commonly-used ideas or business methods such as searching for something using a computer. Non Practicing Entities (NPE), also known as "patent trolls," use these patents to threaten litigation against businesses, particularly small and medium sized businesses they know will not have the funding to endure a lengthy legal battle. Ultimately, the film asks Congress to act to protect America's entrepreneurs from this drain on innovation.
—Austin Meyer