Dow Chemical and Fuji Xerox have become the latest companies to pledge environmentally beneficial patents to the Eco-Patent Commons.
Their addition means the Commons, which is administered by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), now has 11 members.
Both companies have pledged two patents to the Commons, while Xerox (which joined the Commons last year) has added another patent to the 11 it has already pledged.
The patents include one covering a Dow technology enabling more efficient production of olefins (building blocks used in packaging and electronics) and another covering a wastewater treatment method developed by Fuji Xerox. Xerox’s new patent covers a technology that makes magnetic refrigeration less harmful to the environment.
Fuji Xerox is a joint venture between Xerox and Fujifilm.
The 11 members of the Commons are Bosch, Dow, DuPont, Fuji Xerox, IBM, Nokia, Pitney Bowes, Ricoh, Sony, Taisei and Xerox.
Patents pledged to the Commons can be used by anyone who wants to protect the environment and encourage further innovation.
About 100 patents have been pledged so far.
Speaking at the LES US & Canada Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Arnaud Le Hors of WBCSD said the Commons is “not entirely a philanthropic project”, adding that it is a way to encourage innovation: “You can also generate discussions, which can lead to other business opportunities.”
For example, he said, some members had received interest
in licensing technology and know-how to complement their patents. “Having access to the patent is not the end of the story in many cases.”
But he said the commitment not to assert patents has deterred some companies, as they want to keep track of licences: “You want to know who is using the technology.”
But he also hopes more companies will join the Commons: “You only need to pledge one patent to take part.”
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