SURGE OF SPECIALITY PATENT FIRMS
Not Sure If This is a Good Thing

As long as it doesn't justify in anyway what the SCO Group is doing.

Patent payoffs fuel rush of new start-ups

News.com
April 11, 2004

The draw of lucrative patent licensing deals in the technology sector is swelling the ranks of specialty patent businesses that try to turn technical breakthroughs into big money.

These new companies, often run by former Silicon Valley executives, buy unused patents from companies, broker deals between buyers and sellers of patents, and act as patent "investment banks" to turn knowledge into new businesses. (full article)