Eco-Patents: A Triumph of the Commons
(Michael Byrne and Kevin Greenleaf)
Businesses can benefit from the public awareness of green-this and eco-that by not only marketing the environmentally friendly aspects of their products. But they can also benefit by participating in government and industry initiatives such as expedited patent examination, patent pools or open-patent strategies, such as the Eco-Patent Commons, which are similar to open-source licenses.  Participation in such programs can result in far more than good public relations: businesses can realize reduced costs because of economies of scale, faster patent examination, easier technology licensing, joint ventures and faster time-to-market. The green movement continues to gain steam, so jump on the train before it leaves the station.

Eco-Marks and Greenwashing
(Jennifer Hetu, Anessa Owen Kramer, and Timothy Bradley)
Society as a whole is “greener” than ever, and this trend continues to spill over into the consumer marketplace with “green” product offerings growing at an annual rate of over 70%.  Although the fact that consumers and companies are striving to become more environmentally friendly is certainly a positive trend, the “greening” of society and the marketplace has a negative consequence: greenwashing.  Greenwashing poses an increasing risk for advertisers as well as consumers, and companies engaged in green marketing need good legal advice to avoid litigation and regulatory risks.  This panel will discuss those risks and how to navigate them.