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US Patent Office Fast Tracks Green Patents

Posted by samzenpus on from the government-always-liked-you-best dept.

eldavojohn writes "A new initiative is being piloted where 'green' patents are given special priority over other patents in the backlogged system. David Kappos (Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO) said, 'Every day an important green tech innovation is hindered from coming to market is another day we harm our planet and another day lost in creating green businesses and green jobs. Applications in this pilot program will see a significant savings in pendency, which will help bring green innovations to market more quickly.' The details of how you qualify for a green patent (PDF) are available with patent blogs offering opinions on this initiative."

5 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm, seems a little weird. by FooAtWFU · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seems a trifle off. Something about "equal protection under the law" and not having the institution too subject to the whims of the ruling party and the lobbyists of the week.

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    The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
  2. So, if it's like software/internet patents -- by weston · · Score: 5, Funny

    -- you know, the ones where you can say "a method for conveying stateful customer information ON THE INTERNET -- then pretty much all I'll need to contribute to the progress of the useful arts and sciences and, more to the point, amass a formidable patent portfolio, is add USING SOLAR POWER.

    I've already applied for the business method patent, but reasonable licensing is available!

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    Tweet, tweet.
    1. Re:So, if it's like software/internet patents -- by Interoperable · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Every patent will point out that it consumes less energy than it theoretically could have if it had been poorly engineered. It's...greener than the alternative...I guess.

      Faster algorithms will qualify. Just tabulate the total energy saved in data centers that will use your green algorithm. New, large hats might reflect more visible sunlight back to space. New oil extraction methods will more efficiently deliver fossil fuels to gas tanks (thereby lowering the price point and generating more emissions), a new method of writing patents can will green-wash them so they generate less paper work in the streamlined process. All will qualify! (Except that the meta-green patent is a methods patent and wouldn't qualify anyway.)

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      So if this is the future...where's my jet pack?
  3. There's going to be difficulty... by Interoperable · · Score: 5, Insightful

    sorting out truly green patent applications from ones that have green-washed the terminology. I suspect it will do more to promote the, already abused, usage of the term green than actual environmentally friendly initiatives. Still, promoting less wasteful technology is by no means a bad thing, whatever the motive. Even if the initiative fails to promote green inventions (not that I'm saying it will, just that it will be ambiguous to determine), the ideal of efficiency and conservation will be promoted in the public eye.

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    So if this is the future...where's my jet pack?
    1. Re:There's going to be difficulty... by phantomfive · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It doesn't matter. It is merely a political move by this guy to make his boss (or boss's boss) happy.

      The fact is, this move will do nothing to increase the speed of technology, because technology in no way depends on the patent system. You don't have to wait for a patent to be processed before you can actually build and market your product. You don't even have to wait to charge royalties until the patent is approved. This new policy will accomplish nothing.

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      Qxe4