The Green Advantage
Beginning in December 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has offered an accelerated program for patent applications for certain green inventions. Examples include inventions which materially enhance environmental quality and inventions through which greenhouse gas emission is reduced. In November 2010, the USPTO extended the deadline for filing petitions under this Green Technology Pilot Program, and to date, a total of 1,918 petitions have been granted for green technology patent applications, with 328 patents having issued. Under the Green Technology Pilot Program, the average time between granting a green technology petition and the first office action on the merits is 49 days. To read more about the Green Technology Pilot Program offered by the USPTO, visit http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/green_tech.jsp. -Kristan B. Burch
