"Once we start to see bans on products, I feel consumers are losing out as devices are pulled from the market even before the case is decided," writes Milanesi.

"At some point, people have to come back to the table and negotiate over these things," Stofega says. "If not, then you're going to get an already-overburdened patent system that sort of created the problem getting even more overburdened ... at the end of the day, I don't know if the consumer really benefits."

"In the end, it all adds up to the customers ultimately losing," says Wang.

Email Jon Gold at jgold@nww.com and follow him on Twitter at @NWWJonGold.

in Network World's Software section.