Green Channel
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is there a fee for this service?
There is no fee for accelerated prosecution under the Green Channel; the usual patent application fees apply.
Q. Is there a form to apply for this service?
No form is needed to apply for accelerated prosecution under the Green Channel; all that is required is a written request. This request must indicate (a) how the invention relates to a 'green' or environmentally-friendly technology and (b) which actions the applicant wishes to accelerate: search, combined search and examination, publication, and/or examination.
Q. Can I apply online for this service?
Yes, the written request can be made electronically as a covering letter using the Office’s online patent filing services. Alternatively the request can be posted to the IPO.
Q. How do I demonstrate that my invention has an environmental benefit?
The applicant needs to provide as much justification as is necessary to explain why their invention is environmentally-friendly. If, for example, the application relates to a solar panel or a wind turbine then a simple statement is likely to be sufficient. If however the application relates to, for example, a more efficient manufacturing process which uses less energy, then a more detailed explanation is likely to be necessary to explain how the invention has an environmental benefit.
Q. Is there anything else like a specific environmental standard to meet in order to benefit from the fast track system?
There is no specific environmental standard to meet in order to benefit from the Green Channel.
Q. Is the area of technology or IPC classification taken into account when considering if a Green Channel request is justified or not?
We do not take into account the IPC classification or area of technology when considering whether to allow a request for acceleration under the Green Channel. This is because inventions which have an environmental benefit can arise in any area of technology. For example, we would accept an acceleration request for a manufacturing process which uses less energy, in the same way as we would accept an acceleration request for a wind turbine or a recycling process.
Q. Do some areas of technology result in automatic Green Channel acceleration?
We only accelerate processing when the applicant has filed a request for accelerated processing; there is no automatic Green Channel entry for particular areas of technology.
Q. Can you guarantee how quickly a patent would be granted under this scheme?
The statement in our press release that "it could only take nine months to get a patent granted under this scheme" is calculated on the assumption that the applicant requests accelerated combined search and examination (CSE) and publication and then responds promptly to any objections or outstanding matters. We are not able to promise to grant a patent in any particular timescale due to the varying objections arising on different patent applications.
Q. Has the introduction of this initiative been well-received?
The introduction of this initiative has been met with a very positive reception and we have received some very favourable publicity, not only from users but also in the media, which helps to spread the message that patents can be of assistance in dealing with the challenges of climate change. The initiative has also been met with great interest from other patent offices. Since launching the scheme we have been lobbying other countries to implement similar schemes. The US, Australia and South Korea have launched similar schemes, whilst China, Japan and Brazil have expressed interest.
Q. Will "green" patents be published in a separate database on the IPO's website?
We have created a database that enables a search for published applications and granted patents which have been accelerated under the Green Channel. However, there are no plans to publish a separate list of all environmentally-friendly patents.