Some opponents of patents believe that any such distortion of [[free trade]] and other free market outcomes is automatically bad for society. Other critics believe that patents are too easily abused. "Patent trolls" may defend their patents not to protect their own interests in producing a product, but merely to harm competitors. Other critics of patents contend that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office does a poor job of reviewing applications, often issuing patents that are too broad or that overlap previously patented inventions. | Some opponents of patents believe that any such distortion of [[free trade]] and other free market outcomes is automatically bad for society. Other critics believe that patents are too easily abused. "Patent trolls" may defend their patents not to protect their own interests in producing a product, but merely to harm competitors. Other critics of patents contend that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office does a poor job of reviewing applications, often issuing patents that are too broad or that overlap previously patented inventions. |