Patents are imperative to innovation as they recognize the success of inventions. But the weakening of their rights leaves companies spending more on legal, instead of research, marketing, sales and market expansion. And ultimately, impeding progress. How can patent law evolve to better help invent the future? #InnovationFriday.

Across all industries, the incentive for legacy companies to challenge patents, has increased. Why? Because it's proven to be a valuable tactic in slowing or stopping competitors - ultimately impeding innovation as these disruptive companies are forced to spend significant money defending themselves. The impact? According to @Harvard Business Review so-called patent trolls cost defendants an average of $29B per year.