While big tech companies like Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. typically grab the headlines in patent-infringement cases, Ms. Endress's situation illustrates a less visible trend: Intellectual-property claims against tech startups are rising.
Late last week, a new solution came onto the scene, and in a very visible way: TechCrunch, another AOL property which has similar commenting problems (fanboys, trolls, you know: the fun types) threw the switch on Facebook's new and improved native commenting system.