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The word that you are describing here is trawling, not trolling.

I admit though, that trolling does admit some sense of what trawling defines.

Etymonline suggests it might be a combination of both definitions: https://www.etymonline.com/word/troll

TIL. That makes a defamation lawsuit seen even more farcical.

Of course etymology is not meaning. While the origin of the term is neutral, there is no doubt that "patent troll" is used as a derogatory term. But in order to count as defamation it also have to be false.

But since there is no clear agreed-upon definition of "patent troll", it is impossible to prove whether it is a false statement or not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolling_(fishing)

http://www.flamewarriorsguide.com/warriorshtm/troller.htm