If a large (wealthy) corporation, were to try to tie up patents beneficial to the public at large; and some public spirited person (company) were to use the patented technology making only slight changes, the corporation could sue for patent infringement.
But, wouldn't that put the corporation on the front page (insert blog), smack in the face of public ire? Or have we become such slaves to the lawyers, we'd just shrug and suffer?
"I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"