Law360, New York (December 3, 2013, 8:07 PM EST) -- In recent years, the number of patent infringement suits by entities that do not develop or make products has exploded. These companies, variously referred to as nonpracticing entities, patent assertion entities or "patent trolls," often have the incentive to bring lawsuits of questionable merit to induce defendants to pay licensing fees in order to avoid the high cost of patent litigation. The issue has prompted President Obama to offer proposals to address it, and a host of bills have been introduced in Congress offering a diverse array of proposals. The likelihood that these proposals will be passed or will be effective in addressing concerns with patent trolls, however, is uncertain....