The state of software patents after the Alice decision

Many defendants don't have the time or the money to roll the dice on a patent suit, even if the patent at issue is one they consider ridiculous. The threat of injunction, the costs associated with discovery and (for small companies especially) the huge distraction of a lawsuit still make settling a much more appealing option for many defendants. Every patent remains valid until it is overturned. This means a patent can still be very lucrative for the patent-holder, even if most observers would agree that it's out of step with current doctrine.