The federal government wants to help companies bring green technologies to market quickly with a new pilot program designed to put green technology patent applications on a fast track.
The U.S. Commerce Department's Patent and Trademark Office announced Monday the pilot program could shave a year from the time it takes to get a patent for certain green technologies, such as those related to environmental quality, energy conservation, renewable energy development and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
This could include inventions that reduce energy consumption in cathode ray tube circuits, electric lamp and discharge devices, combustion systems, industrial equipment or household appliances, or those that advance low-emission fossil fuel power generation technology.
Instead of going through the examination in the order in which they are filed, the first 3,000 green tech patent applications in the The Green Technology Pilot Program would be give special status and expedited examination.
The average time to final decision is normally around 40 months.
"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," David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for intellectual property and director of the USPTO, said in a statement Monday. "Applications in this pilot program will see a significant savings in pendency, which will help bring green innovations to market more quickly."
The effective date for the program is today and it will run for 12 months. The program may be extended depending on its effectiveness and feedback.
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