Green technology patents will see a year shaved off the average forty month wait time to approve new patents in the US. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing a one-year pilot program to push green technology patent applications through the process more quickly, so that the technologies can reach the market faster.
“American competitiveness depends on innovation and innovation depends on creative Americans developing new technology,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “By ensuring that many new products will receive patent protection more quickly, we can encourage our brightest innovators to invest needed resources in developing new technologies and help bring those technologies to market more quickly.”
The USPTO will accept the first 3,000 petitions that meet the requirements outlined by the government office to participate in this unique pilot program. The technology must fall under the US classification for “green”, meaning that it enhances environmental quality, conserves energy, develops renewable energy resources, or lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
“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,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos.
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