US Patent Office Fast Tracks Green Patents 136
eldavojohn writes "A new initiative is being piloted where 'green' patents are given special priority over other patents in the backlogged system. David Kappos (Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO) said, 'Every day an important green tech innovation is hindered from coming to market is another day we harm our planet and another day lost in creating green businesses and green jobs. Applications in this pilot program will see a significant savings in pendency, which will help bring green innovations to market more quickly.' The details of how you qualify for a green patent (PDF) are available with patent blogs offering opinions on this initiative."
Re:Better idea (Score:1, Informative)
I think every examiner in the PTO has at least a BS degree and many have advanced degrees - patent examiners make pretty good money and the job leads to lucrative careers in the law after leaving the PTO.
We pay them through all the fees that the patent office charges for prosecution. In fact, the PTO makes so much off of fees that it turns a profit every year for the U.S. government.