Today IBM and the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development, together with Nokia, Pitney Bowes, and Sony, are
announcing the creation of “The Eco-Patent Commons,” a new
collaborative effort focused on shared use of intellectual
property to help the environment. Together these companies are
pledging dozens of patents in what we hope will be an expanding
effort. As the industry moves to have greater openness and
collaboration as part of their balanced intellectual property
strategy, the Commons can help companies ensure that “green” is
an essential part of that strategy. The overview of The Eco-
Patent Commons from the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development website states that the goals are - To provide an
avenue by which innovations and solutions may be easily shared
to accelerate and facilitate implementations to protect the
environment and perhaps lead to further innovation. - To promote
and encourage cooperation and collaboration between businesses
that pledge patents and potential users