Some aspects of international patenting innovative technologies for environmental cleanups

Risk management strategies applied to environmental cleanups can be financed by royalties from licensing of patents on patentable innovative technologies. The concept of patent law is outlined by discussions of patentable subject matter; criteria for patentability including novelty, statutory bar, non-obviousness; utility and operability; comparison of patent law and trade secret protection; GATT patent term and licensing. The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is discussed along with the background of the Paris Convention and European Patent Convention. The PCT patent application procedure comprises an international phase consisting of Chapter I and optional Chapter II processing, and a national phase. Depositing microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure is facilitated by the Budapest Treaty of 1978 internationally.