Patents are extremely useful for small businesses and startups to prevent large companies for sweeping in and stealing their innovation. Unfortunately, patent trolls are ruining the patent system and putting small businesses at jeopardy with frivolous lawsuits.
Here's what we need to do to return patents back to their prime:
1) Ensure patents are used for business. Have patents expire (and any prior infringements lawsuits overturned) if the company that owns them is not actively building and selling their patented technology.
2) Only allow patents for the people who need them, i.e. small businesses. Put limits on who can file a patent based on company revenue and size. Large companies already have something to protect their investments: money. They don't need patents too.