Unfortunately this a bug that a few of us has uncovered. It is a real shame that he didn't realize the lack of trophies until now. I would have been very pissed off too if my previous build required it, since I went fairly far with it.
Basically, as you go around the different academies in different worlds, they "modify" your patent. So, he can't reget the patent, and only one exists. Heck, I'm not even sure you can destroy or sell it.
It seems that for most people, if you get it modified by the Demons, you can never accrue anymore trophies.
I figured this would be fairly easy to fix in code, by the developers have not seemed to get back to us yet?
Worse off though, I am pretty sure his game is "hosed" in that he has to start over if he wants the trophies.
The plus side is, you don't REALLY need the trophies (well, if there is a really really low spawn for a certain unit you need, then you do need the trophies.).
Sacrifice is his only other option if he wanted to bolster units.