In an effort to promote the development and commercialization of technologies that conserve natural resources or reduce negative environmental impact, patent offices around the world have adopted programs to expedite the examination of patent applications pertaining to clean technologies. New programs in China and Brazil have been recently established, further expanding the global options for accelerated examination of clean technology applications.
AUSTRALIA -
On September 15, 2009, IP Australia announced a fast-track examination program for patent applications directed to environmentally friendly technologies. Examination of applications under the program is expected to begin within four to eight weeks after filing the request for expedited examination and no additional fee is required.
BRAZIL -
The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) launched a program on April 17, 2012 to accelerate the patenting of green technologies in alternative energy, transportation, energy conservation, waste management, and agriculture. The goal of the program is to reduce the average prosecution time of an application from over five years to less than two years. The program is limited to the first 500 petitions granted and to applications originally filed on or after January 2, 2011 in the INPI or filed as a Paris Convention application in the INPI within one year of a priority application.
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