Did you know that businesses with an environmental benefit can request accelerated processing of their patent application?
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) offers different methods of accelerating the processing of your patent application.
The Green Channel for patent applications was introduced on 12 May 2009. This service allows applicants to request accelerated processing of their patent application if the invention has an environmental benefit.
The applicant must make a request in writing, indicating:
- How their application is environmentally-friendly.
- Which actions they wish to accelerate: search, examination, combined search and examination, and/or publication.
The service is available to patent applicants who make a reasonable assertion that the invention has some environmental benefit. If, for example, the invention is a solar panel or a wind turbine then a simple statement is likely to be enough. However a more efficient manufacturing process which uses less energy is likely to need more explanation.
Applications will only be accelerated when requested by the applicant; there is no automatic Green Channel entry for particular areas of technology.
For further information visit Patents: accelerated processing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)