"...Prof. Magliocca compares 19th century problems with "patent sharks" to today's problems with "patent trolls" and suggests the only politically acceptable path out of today's problems may be the path taken out of the 19th century problems, i.e. elimination of the class of patents that triggered the problems. He provides tons of interesting context, but here's one of his proposals..."

Via boycottnovell http://boycottnovell.com/2007/12/14/fsf-gerard-magliocca-on-patents/