Thanks, this seems plausible. Is it possible that they've actually convinced themselves they are doing something justifiable with their own IP? I'd find that hard to believe, but who knows?
I've noticed that there are definitely people who think ideas — even unimplemented ones — are valuable IP and patents are a reasonable way to monetize ideas. It's sometimes expressed as a business model for those who can't afford to execute their ideas. I guess the line between that philosophy and patent trolling is when the inventor starts going after companies that independently reinvented their idea.
