Aug. 30, 2008
In early May, EU Industry Commissioner Gunter Verheugen told the European Patent Forum in Ljubljana, Slovenia that green technology patents should be fast-tracked through Europe's patent registration system. This, he claimed, would not only combat climate change, but would also help the EU realise its goal becoming the world's most eco-efficient economy.
The EU, according to findings made public in February at a European business summit, not only outperforms international competitors in registering clean technology patents, but grants half of all renewable energy and clean vehicle patents.
Alison Brimelow of the European Patent Office (EPO), which organised the forum, expressed less eagerness to change existing EU patent rules to favour clean technologies, but this caution likely reflects industry's 'general satisfaction' with the current system, wrote Ends Europe Daily.
Meanwhile, the EC has pledged to publish a major policy package aimed at encouraging the production and consumption of greener products and technologies.
