Today, almost any business that uses basic technology is a possible target of patent trolls — the result of a patent system that has done a terrible job of evaluating software patents and a court system that hasn't done much better at examining them. In some cases, trolls are even forcing business owners to choose between paying employees and paying legal fees.

Patent trolls are companies that collect patents so they can then use their portfolios to generate revenue that demand money from companies over patent infringement claims and often file lawsuits in hopes of pressuring a payout.

In an attempt to stop this madness, tech giants Apple, Google and Samsung have come together in Europe to get patent trolls under control. They are among 19 companies that told the EU in a letter to take action to limit the ability of companies that hold patents as their primary source of income from using the legal system to extort money out of other businesses.