U.S. Gives Green Light to Green Tech Patents
Posted by: Mark Marich
on
December 17, 2009
Source: Policy Dialogue on Entrepreneurship
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced last week that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has put in place a new pilot program that will fast-track the review of green technology patents.
To be eligible for the expedited review, the patents must materially contribute to environmental quality, discovering or developing renewable energy resources, improving energy efficiency or reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The pilot program will initially target the first 3,000 patent applications already on file whose holders apply for special status and expedited examination.
The program is expected to shorten the patent-review process by one year. This process currently takes an average of 40 months. Earlier patenting of these technologies is expected to enable inventors to secure funding, create businesses, and bring vital green technologies into use much sooner.
For more information, click here and here to access information from the USPTO.
Category:
Energy
General
