Ympäristöystävällisten keksintöjen nopeutettu patentointi pk-yritysten näkökulmasta
Avainsanat:
patentti, nopeutettu menettely, keksinnöt, kestävyys, kannustimetAbstrakti
Accelerated patenting of environmentally friendly inventions from the perspective of SMEs
This article examines the potential of accelerated patent examination, the so-called fast track system, to incentivise the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. The fast track system is one of the few universally adopted IPR-related measures to incentivise the innovation of environmentally friendly technologies, and several national intellectual property offices around the world have introduced different applications of the system.
The article analyses various national applications of the system and the system’s merits and weaknesses particularly relative to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they have a notable potential for sustainable innovations. Based on the analysis, the article assesses possibilities to develop the system into greater efficiency when it comes to innovation and deployment of environmentally friendly technology.
The article finds that the fast track system per se is an appropriate tool to accelerate the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. However, the attractiveness and thus the societal benefits of the system could be increased by improving the present systems. This could mean, for example, unifying national requirements set for different fast track systems, lighter procedural requirements or substantive requirements aimed expressly at environmentally friendly technologies. Additionally, binding elements could be included in exchange for strong additional incentives. Particularly for SMEs, it might be beneficial to lower patenting costs and include counselling and guidance in the system. Nevertheless, the fast track system is only one means among others to integrate sustainability approaches in the intellectual property system.
