Patent Trolls and the Biotechnology Industry - Michele Gianella-Borradori

Patent trolls are a phenomenon that emerged in the U.S. and it is in said country where they continue to make headlines. Many firms across high-tech industries have already made their acquaintance; those who have not, ought to be prepared. As trolls represent a misuse of the patent and legal systems, using questionable patents and preliminary injunctions for something similar to corporate blackmail, it is important to ask why their success has been predominantly bound to the United States. By way of interviews conducted with patent and industry experts, this thesis looks to establish a variety of systematic risks pertaining to the patent and legal systems, as well as specific risks associated with biotechnology, that may help conclude whether Swiss biotech is vulnerable to abuse by patent trolls.