IDG News Service - A group of technology companies is offering to share some of its patents to encourage the development of environmentally friendly technologies.
IBM, Nokia Corp., Sony Corp. and bulk-mailing equipment manufacturer Pitney Bowes Inc. have together donated patents to the Eco-patent Commons, an organization set up to share patents for technology with environmental benefits.
Any organization willing to donate a patent for environmentally friendly technology can join the group. The patents are made available for use by members and nonmembers alike.
So far, patents pledged to the commons cover fields such as wastewater treatment, air purification, cell phone recycling and reducing printer ink consumption. IBM has pledged 27 patents, Pitney Bowes two, and Nokia and Sony one each.
The Eco-patent Commons will be administered by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a group that brings together CEOs in industries such as cement, electrical utilities, timber, mining and transport.
The group wants companies to donate patents for technologies that have a positive environmental impact, but that are not related to their core businesses.
It hopes that access to patents in the commons will enable businesses facing environmental challenges that have already been solved by others to develop cleaner, less-energy-intensive products as a result.
The move is inspired by the success of the free and open-source software sector, where the sharing information has resulted in the creation of many new products, the group said.
Free Insider GuideCopyright © 1994 - 2012 Computerworld Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Computerworld Inc. is prohibited. Computerworld and Computerworld.com and the respective logos are trademarks of International Data Group Inc.
