We might have another adversary with the power to cripple the industry and innovation to worry about. Ruyan.
Seems like Ruyan has become a patent troll. What's a patent troll? Like their counterparts, copyright trolls, they are part of a growing fad among corporations. Patent and copyright trolls have figured out that it's easier to make money from a portfolio of patents than it is to make money by actually producing a product. Patent trolls have no viable business model. They are not engaged in R&D or innovation. They employ law firms and in-house legal personnel to run around threatening other, usually smaller companies at first, with patent infringement lawsuits. Initially, they target companies that don't have the money to sustain a long legal defense, regardless of the merit of the trolls case. These companies settle for undisclosed amounts of cash, just as the troll knew they would, which is why they were targeted in the first place. When the victim agrees to settle for some amount of cash, and usually with a non-disclosure agreement, the patent troll moves on to the next victim. As the extortion cash starts to snowball, they target larger and larger victims and collect larger and larger settlements. Eventually, they target a victim that is big enough to defend itself and refuses to settle. When that happens, the troll drops it's threats and slinks back underneath the rock from which it emerged. That behavior belies the weakness of the troll's case, but it's a game of chicken few victims can afford to engage in.
This is an abuse of the legal system and entirely counter to the purpose of patents and copyrights. In article 8, section 1 (don't hold me to that) of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is given the option, (not the obligation), to grant a limited monopoly to the creators of works of art and inventions in order to further the progress of the arts and sciences., not to maintain some company's business model, despite how obsolete, outdated or stagnant it has become. The purpose of patent and copyright law is to further the public good, not to maintain the stock prices of a patent troll or to perpetuate the profits of a company that has done little more than invent a product, shelved it and wishes to sit on its laurels. Our tax dollars are being wasted and our legal system is being abused by Ruyan and it's reincarnation, Dragonite(?).
If Ruyan succeeds in it's blitzkrieg of patent trolling, as it has so far, they have the potential to severely damage the entire industry and bring innovation to a grinding halt. Ruyan has done nothing over the last 3 years to advance the e-cig industry. They have done nothing significant to create new products. They are violating the spirit of patent and copyright law. They sat idly by and let SA and Njoy fight the costly legal battles with the FDA. Now that the "coast is clear", they have decided to pop their heads up and begin their campaign of what is essentially extortion.
So far, they have targeted some smaller companies for shaking down. As their successes mount and their legal trolls become more brazen, how long will it be before they target Joyetech, Smoketech, Boge and who knows how many smaller makers of mods? Do Reo or Altsmoke or Provape, or any of the other mod manufacturers, have the financial resources to defend themselves against the Ruyan trolls? Are we ready to pay Ruyan's licensing fees and cost of extortion on top of all the taxes that are soon to be imposed on e-cig products? Will we be willing to vape only with Ruyan approved cartos and atomizers and PV's?
