[1] This is because NPEs can achieve a quick return on investment since most companies settle rather than fight, even if they believe the assertion to be invalid.

[3] Smaller members act as an early warning system by notifying Unified of NPE demand letters in exchange for notifying Unified if they ever plan to sell a Patent to an NPE.

[8] Unified also publishes monthly newsletters summarizing NPE activity against small businesses and technology companies.

[15] In June and July 2016 Unified filed IPRs on patents belonging to the three most litigious NPEs of 2016: Uniloc, Sportbrain Holdings, and Shipping & Transit LLC, who together sued more than 200 companies in 2016.

[17][18] Unified assesses the risk posed by NPEs by monitoring NPE assertions.