Several Australian news outlets have recently reported a story interviewing Carolyn Taylor, who alleges that Lorna Jane has infringed on her patent for compression tights filed in 2009. Is this a classic underdog story, where the little guy has been exploited and swept under the carpet by their bigger competitor, or is there more to it? With litigation proceedings set to commence on the 3^rd of May, we take a closer look. How far has innovation really wandered from the corsets used in the brothels of Europe?

” For those new to the patent world, here is some background to the frivolous patent litigation scene: After a famous case involving the University of California and Microsoft, the long dormant eggs containing troll embryos hatched. When trolls feed, they observe goat passages across heavily trafficked bridges, and install toll booths with the cunning aid of men (and precious few women) in wigs and robes. By making the cost of litigation a burden on genuine businesses, these parasites can suck blood from active businesses and unsuspecting consumers. With the cost of litigation in both time and money extremely high, it is not uncommon for patent opportunists to select a single target with whom litigation or settlement is considered likely to build a war chest for going after much larger targets.”

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