Cities Hit Back at 'Patent Troll'

"If your city uses civic hacking to create transit apps, be warned: You'll be getting a bill for five figures from Martin Kelly Jones."

"Mr. Jones is a software developer who claims to have invented technology that tracks and issues alerts about scheduled package deliveries or vehicle arrival and departure schedules," explains Mary Jander. "While he has no product of his own to sell, he sues anyone he can find who's developed an app he believes violates his numerous patents."

"That includes public transit authorities, which often issue apps that help users of bus and rail services track scheduling. Some of these are part of civic hacking projects, created by volunteers."