Uniloc Singapore Private Limited

Uniloc Singapore Private Limited is the parent entity of a group of U.S. and European affiliates, collectively known as Uniloc, that operate as a patent assertion entity. The original company, Uniloc Corporation, was founded in Australia in 1992 by inventor Ric Richardson. While its U.S. operations have been based in locations including Rhode Island and California, the company is privately held. Reliable figures for employee count and revenue are not publicly available.

Initially, Uniloc developed and sold computer security and copy-protection software based on its patented product activation technology, often called "try and buy" software. By the early 2000s, the company's business model shifted from software development to monetizing a large portfolio of acquired patents through licensing and litigation. Uniloc and its various affiliates are now non-practicing entities (NPEs) that generate revenue by suing technology companies for alleged patent infringement. The company has received substantial litigation funding from Fortress Investment Group, a relationship that has led to challenges over its legal standing to bring lawsuits.

As indicated by its record as a plaintiff in all tracked cases, Uniloc is a prolific patent litigator. It has filed hundreds of lawsuits, often in venues historically favorable to patent plaintiffs, such as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The company has been described by critics as a "patent troll" and was one of the most active NPEs in the U.S. during the 2010s.

The company is best known for its long-running lawsuit against Microsoft over a software-activation patent, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. In that case, a jury initially awarded Uniloc a verdict of $388 million. Though the verdict was subject to numerous appeals and reversals, the case became a landmark in patent law after the Federal Circuit rejected the long-standing "25 percent rule" for calculating reasonable royalty damages. Uniloc and Microsoft ultimately reached a confidential settlement in 2012. Uniloc has also engaged in high-profile litigation against dozens of other major technology companies, including Sony, Apple, and Google.