A Quantitative Approach to Assessing the Impact of the Utility Model “Petty Patent” on Green Technology

Abstract

Almost all countries in the world have some form of patenting system in which inventors are accorded some form of intellectual property protection for their inventions, but some may be more suited for green technology than others. Two forms of intellectual property protection analyzed in this analysis were utility models, which are generally easier to attain but provide lesser in protection, and patents, which are generally harder to attain but provide for stronger protections. This thesis analyzed whether the utility model form of intellectual property protection is associated with success of green technology. The research examined if the utility model enables countries to achieve certain objectives in the sustainability field, like increasing recycling or renewable energy production, and whether that achievement can be associated with the utility model specifically. In this thesis, I used a sophisticated a patent searching program to extract large amounts data related to patent application dates and classifications, combined with objective success indicator data such as renewable energy capacities and recycling tonnage. Part of the method was to retrieve the number of patents or utility models applied for in each of at least ten different countries, over an 18 year period from the year 2000 for forty six classifications, creating over eight thousand datapoints. The method also entailed retrieving data related to renewable energy, recycling and emissions data for the same selected countries. Through careful temporal analysis of the peaks of each data set, conclusions were drawn to whether positive effects were observed on obtaining the sustainability objective. The temporal analysis identified the number of years between the year of most patent or utility model applications in a country, and the year in which there was either the greatest percentage or total increase in a success indicator in that same country. Through careful alignment of the group data, a strong relationship was identified for classifications related to photovoltaic plants, supporting structures, and related energy converting devices. There was generally no significant relationship between the recycling, wind power and energy from waste fields. The conclusion from the analysis is that the utility model form of intellectual property protection is associated with the success of several types of photovoltaic inventions. Some reasons for the success may be that the classifications identified are generally related to fields which utility models are believed to be the most suited for, such as being more mechanical, and developing at a more incremental pace instead of breakthroughs. This research provides the foundational support for possible changes to the rules and laws governing patents in the United States, to adapt utility model protection for certain patent classifications.