3 times its estimated profit 2007 against 14The British plan gives 9 solvency ratios banksIn d'Azur a client empty its accounts and booksIt recognizes the feelings but they are usedThe fall of the European currency continuesTo be wanting that can prevent says conventional wisdomToday this secular commitment is less obviousThe bulk of the depreciations is now passedToday 360 employees working on its sitesIt must faithfully transpose them into national lawThe free access of patents in the field of the environment is to emulate. The German automotive supplier Bosch, Xerox reprographic American specialist and the American DuPont chemist come to announce their participation in the Eco-Patent Commons, launched in January in the IBM initiative associated with Nokia, Sony and Pitney Bowes. The arrival of new participants led to a quasi-doublement from the list of available patent, thus rising to more than 80. Eco-Patent Commons is produced in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a group of companies of international whose headquarters are in Geneva and which brings together some 190 members demonstrate a shared commitment to sustainable development.
No question as to abandon its industrial property. As an expert in the sector, "it is important to understand that these groups did not abandon these patents." They continue to finance their continued as themselves, most often continue to use. "They are only willing to grant free licenses for operating companies for applications in the field of sustainable development". This allows them to control the use by third parties. If they felt at one time or another that they compete them on their own land, they could always withdraw the operating licence.
Pollution control and recycling
"It encourages other industry to have the same policy of industrial property, is IBM." Our idea is to encourage the development of an ecosystem where IBM has its place. "For some, such as Xerox, the approach is really new. Others, such as DuPont, have already been enjoying their industrial property community. "In recent years, we have already donated more 200 patents at the State of Delaware in its"New Economy Initiative"", reports Michelle Reardon, responsible for the chemist media relations. But, in contrast to the Eco-Patent Commons operation, the patents that have been given and not licenses, DuPont abandoning this industrial property.
Patent by the new members cover, for example, a technology from Xerox to reduce the time and the cost of pollution of water and soil, another developed by DuPont to convert non-recyclable fertilizer plastics, or even those of Bosch some 45 patents that help reduce fuel consumption, reduce harmful emissions or reuse the heat generated by vehicles. Sony, which was already part, adds patents on optical disc recycling.
IBM, for its part, has already contributed to this "common pot" patents for technologies that allow either to reduce consumption of water, energy or materials, to limit the production of waste or pollution, or to increase recycling. This is the case of a method of surface ozone treatment originally developed for cleaning semiconductor during the manufacturing process. It could also apply to the cleaning of flat screens, contact lenses, optics of camera...
Good for the image
Since its launch in January, several members of the Eco-Patent Commons operation were solicited and three patents are currently the subject of exploitation. For participants, this is a painless operation from a financial, but positive point of view in terms of image. Potential users can them find their account to develop their business by integrating these technologies, without having either to verify that they have well freedom of operation, or pay licence. In view of the possible competition risks, are, in the opinion of experts, rather specialized SMEs that the big groups that should benefit from. However, the overall impact real, both economic and environmental project Eco - Patent Commons remains difficult to assess.