By Gene Quinn in IP Watchdog

Phil Hartstein is the President and CEO of Finjan Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNJN). Finjan owns a portfolio of patents related to toftware that proactively detects malicious code and thereby protects end users from identity and data theft, spyware, malware, phishing, trojans and other online threats. Founded in 1997, Finjan developed and patented the cybersecurity technology that makes up its portfolio. Since the sale of its hardware and software operations Finjan’s primary source of revenue has come from the licensing and enforcement of its patent rights.

Hartstein has seen the industry from a variety of different rolls, starting his career as a patent engineer with Knobbe Martens, before moving into he monetization and dealmaking side of the industry. Hartstein joined Finjan in 2013, coming over to the company from IP Navigation Group, where he served as Vice-President and was responsible for portfolio enforcement across a range of technology sectors. Prior to his time at IP Nav, he spent time working with Rembrandt IP Solutions, IPotential and Ocean Tomo.

On January 6, 2015, I interviewed Hartstein, which appears below. We had a wide ranging and lively discussion about the current state of the patent market, how the pejorative use of the term “patent troll” does nothing but attempt to denigrate innovators as second-class patent owners simply because they don’t manufacture, efforts to promote ethical licensing standards, and patent reform. This conversation is also provides a preview of an upcomingfree webinar on Thursday, February 5, 2015, at 12pm ET. I will be joined by Hartstein and Scott Burt, who is Senior VP and Chief Intellectual Property Officer for Conversant, for a discussion about Ethical Patent Licensing.

Without further ado, here is part 1 of my interview with Phil Hartstein.