U.S. Patent office wants more green technology, eases up on restrictions
Recently, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office changed its application process for accepting green technology, hoping to attract more green inventions, CNET reports.
The office's Green Technology Pilot program, which started in December, wanted inventors with potential green technology to apply for patents. If the technology was accepted, the patent petitions then got priority screening for a year under the program. Now, the office has eliminated the need for the green tech applications to comply with previous classifications. Now, the definitions of green technology are less narrow.
"This will permit more applications to qualify for the pilot program, thereby allowing more inventions related to green technologies to be advanced out of turn for examination and reviewed earlier," said David Kappos, director of the patent office, CNET relays.
This is good news for both inventors and businesses, as many businesses have been trying to go green with their technology. With more green tech items available, like power sources, computers and overhead projectors, businesses are able to increase their stock. The loosening of patent classifications will potentially add to this list of available green technology.
