Intellectual Property and Climate Change: Inventing Clean Technologies

'A historically grounded study on a cutting-edge topic, Intellectual Property and Climate Change has it all. Not only is it well-written, concise, and hugely informative, it is also a timely intervention addressing truly global challenges. Quite simply, a must-read.'

- Eva Hemmungs Wirtén, Uppsala University, Sweden 

- Benjamin K. Sovacool, National University of Singapore

In the wake of the international summits in Copenhagen and Cancun, there is an urgent need to consider the role of intellectual property law in encouraging research, development, and diffusion of clean technologies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.This book charts the patent landscapes and legal conflicts emerging in a range of fields of innovation - including renewable forms of energy, such as solar power, wind power, and geothermal energy; as well as biofuels, green chemistry, green vehicles, energy efficiency, and smart grids. 

As well as reviewing key international treaties, this book provides a detailed analysis of current trends in patent policy and administration in key nation states, and offers clear recommendations for law reform. It considers such options as technology transfer, compulsory licensing, public sector licensing, and patent pools; and analyzes the development of Climate Innovation Centres, the Eco-Patent Commons, and environmental prizes, such as the L-Prize, the H-Prize, and the X-Prizes. This book will have particular appeal to policy-makers given its focus upon recent legislative developments and reform proposals, as well as legal practitioners by developing a better understanding of recent legal, scientific, and business developments, and how they affect their practice. Innovators, scientists and researchers will also benefit from reading this book. 

Contents:

Preface

Introduction:

The Wizards of Menlo Park: Thomas Edison, General Electric Inc. and Ecomagination

Part I: International Law

1. The Copenhagen Accord and the Cancun Agreements: Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer, and Climate Change

2. The TRIPS Agreement: Intellectual Property, Climate Change, and Disaster Capitalism

3. Energy Poverty: The World Intellectual Property Organization and The Development Agenda

Part II: Patent Law

4. The Clean Technology Revolution: Patent Log-Jams and Fast-Tracks

5. The Toyota Prius: Hybrid Cars, and Patent Trolls

6. 'Clean Energy for America, Power Up America': Patent Law and Compulsory Licensing

Part III: Innovation

7. Climate Innovation Centres: Patent Law and Public Sector Licensing

8. The Eco-Patent Commons: Patent Pools, Clearing-Houses, and Open Innovation

9. Environmental Prizes: The H-Prize, the L-Prize, and the X-Prize

Conclusion: Intellectual Property and Climate Law

Bibliography

Index