Very true. Some folks think that a patent implies some kind of "IP police" who will defend you. In reality, the patent only gives you the right to
sue an infringer, a suit you must fund at your own expense. Meanwhile, the alleged infringement will continue unabated.
It's also true that most of the money that changes hands in patents is in these mass cross-licensing agreements, rather than in individual lawsuits which the patent pools try to prevent.
