The term 'patent troll' has become a fixture of intellectual property debates, but it is a relatively recent invention. According to an IPWatchdog essay, the phrase was coined at Intel in the late 1990s. Since then, it has been used broadly and pejoratively, with no single agreed-upon definition. The label is most frequently deployed against non-practicing entities (NPEs).
The essay argues that this framing may be unhelpful. Instead of continuing to cast NPEs as trolls, it proposes embracing 'elves.' The excerpt does not spell out exactly what elves represent, but the contrast suggests a more positive or constructive view of NPEs.
The essay's argument implies that the language used to describe NPEs carries weight. Whether the 'elf' metaphor catches on remains to be seen, but the piece makes a case for retiring at least one tired insult.