While the term "patent troll" has entered common
parlance in recent years, the term "trademark troll" is
less commonly used. However, trademark trolls do exist and can
present brand owners with real challenges. In the trademark world,
a troll is generally understood as one who attempts to register a
mark and then demands payment and threatens litigation against
unsuspecting companies that have adopted the same or similar marks.
In the field of domain names, such trolls are generally known as
cyber squatters.
There are generally two different classes of people or entities
that have been accused of being trademark trolls.
OPPORTUNISTIC TRADEMARK REGISTRANTS
Such persons or entities do not actually use or intend to use
the mark but opportunistically attempt to register well-known or
recently introduced trademarks registered by a different company in
other countries, in anticipation of that company eventually wanting
to use it in the troll's country at some point in
