In addition to what's already been said, I would just like to point out that patents do NOT need to be defended in order to be kept. Patents are good for the duration (barring prior art and some other exceptions).
Lets say you get a patent. The next day someone invents something that infringes it, and it gets huge. Then, the year before you're about to lose your patent you file suit. Your patent is still completely valid and you will have as good a case as at any other time (once again, assuming your patent is valid, which in a lot of tech cases is not the case IMO, but the legal system disagrees with me).
Trademarks are what are lost if you don't defend them. Patents and Copyrights are a legal, unassailable monopoly for as long as they are valid, whether or not you defend them.
As a trade off, trademarks are (theoretically) the only one of the three that last into perpetuity - as long as you use/defend your trademark, it's yours. Once your patent expires, its in the public domain and can be used for free by anyone without permission, licensing, etc. That's why there have been so many extensions to copyright -- companies want to extend their legal monopoly over the property (that, and Disney).
Please, PLEASE do NOT feed the trolls.
fksumot tag: "Sheik had to become a man to be useful. Or less useful. Might depend if you're bi."
--Predictions--
1) WiiFit will outsell the pokemans.
Current Status: 2009.01.10 70k till PKMN Yellow (Passed: Emerald, Crystal, FR/LG)
