Green technologies

Taken from “A global solution for the protection of inventions“, pp. 101-102.

“On the other hand, it is a fact that global general welfare in terms of the ecosystem has been affected by technological development. The affectation to the environment could not be blamed on the current global or earlier national systems of protection of inventions. Mankind ignorance and voracity is accountable. This book does not intent to delve into explaining this historical and sad truth. (It is not part of its scope of study.) As with the current patent scheme, this book does not intent to mourn about mistakes of the past but to propose plausible changes for the future. Within a well-structured system of protection—as the one this book advocates—mankind could try to revert this situation. In the current time new technologies should stop and correct the damage done by some previous technologies to the environment. Research and development with this objective must be encouraged with retribution. The global retribution (which is measured in years of exclusivity) to this kind of technologies (green technologies)—if proportionally contributed by the different countries according to their economic status—should be greater. A system of protection for inventions must remain only while it contributes to the achievement of general welfare.[1]

[1] A well intended proposal was presented in 2013 by Ecuador to the Council for the TRIPS, seeking technological transfer of “eco-technologies” by establishing exceptions and limits to the protection of such inventions. Although well intended, the proposed solution is incorrect. Less retribution for this kind of technologies means less investment in research and development. More green or eco-technologies could only be further encouraged if the retribution is bigger. If proportionality came to be introduced, a different retribution (longer term of protection) could be analyzed and established for this kind of technologies.”