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Innovation

Patent office reboots green tech patent program

Last week, I wrote about the government's plan to accelerate the handout of green technology patents, because I was perplexed by the fact that more companies weren't taking advantage of the program. Apparently, according to intellectual property experts, one reason for the slow uptake has been the fact that the classification categories it covered were very limited.
Written by Heather Clancy, Contributor

Last week, I wrote about the government's plan to accelerate the handout of green technology patents, because I was perplexed by the fact that more companies weren't taking advantage of the program. Apparently, according to intellectual property experts, one reason for the slow uptake has been the fact that the classification categories it covered were very limited. At last count, there have been 950 petitions for an accelerated patent examination; 342 had been granted by mid-May. Right after I wrote that last blog, however, the U.S. Patent Office opened up the program to more green technologies categories.

Here's a statement from the Patent Office Director David Kappos:

"There has been a tremendous amount of interest in the Green Technology Pilot Program, and we would like to enable applicants whose inventions did not fall within the initial classifications eligible for the program to be eligible. By expanding the eligibility criteria for this program, will further accelerate the development of critical green technologies while creating new jobs.”

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