Final answer:
The term "patent trolls" is commonly used to describe companies that aggressively enforce their patents to make profits through litigation and licensing fees.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "patent trolls" is commonly used to describe companies that aggressively enforce their patents in the context of intellectual property protection.
Patent trolls are companies or individuals that acquire patents not to manufacture or sell a product but to make profits by suing or threatening to sue other companies for patent infringement. They often exploit IP protection loopholes and use the threat of litigation to demand licensing fees or settlements from companies.
Examples of patent trolls include companies that buy up broad or vague patents and then use them to target a wide range of industries, even if their patents are not directly related to the products or technologies being used.