The U.K. Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has launched an initiative to give priority to patent applications aimed at technology with environmental benefits. As part of the new arrangement, accelerated search and/or examination of a patent application will be made available to any patent applicant who makes a reasonable assertion that his or her invention has some environmental benefit. Applicants can choose which aspects of the application process they want to accelerate, including search, examination, combined search and examination, and/or publication. Instead of the current average of two to three years to process an application through the UKIPO, an application for green technology could be granted in just nine months under the new arrangement, according to David Lammy, minister for intellectual property. The UKIPO Fast Grant Guide describes a process that does not require shifting much of the searching and examination burden to the applicant. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office’s (USPTO) expedited examination procedure, the U.S. Petition to Make Special, also is available in a number of instances, including inventions relating to environmental benefits and energy development or conservation. However, the process requires the applicant to conduct a pre-examination search, submit a copy of the references deemed “most closely related” to the invention, and describe how the invention is patentable over those references. These requirements can substantially increase the up front legal fees associated with filing a patent application and discourage applicants from taking advantage of the expedited process in the U.S.

Go to: Green Patent Blog

Posted June 10th, 2009 under Tech Transfer

Write a comment