Eco-Patent Commons — Patent-sharing For A Cleaner And Greener Environment

In view of growing concerns about environmental issues relating to the manufacture of electronics, a new initiative to share patents relating to environment-friendly inventions has been created. Earlier this year, IBM and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Team partnered with Nokia, Pitney Bowes and Sony to establish the Eco-Patent Commons.

The Eco-Patent Commons aims to create a shared collection of such patents and to encourage innovations in the area of environment sustainability. The hope is that the collaboration and co-operation fostered through the sharing of these patents will produce a number of environmental benefits for its members, including energy conservation, water consumption reductions, pollution prevention and increased recycling.