Save the World and Save Some Cash

According to a Federal Register notice of February 8, 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is launching a twelve-month pilot program to incentivize the distribution of patented technologies to address humanitarian needs.  Program judges independent of the USPTO will select award winners from the first 1000 program applications accepted by the USPTO.  Applicants will be assigned to one of four categories: Medical Technology, Food & Nutrition, Clean Technology, and Information Technology.

Awardees will receive a certificate redeemable to accelerate select matters before the USPTO and public recognition for their efforts, including an award ceremony at the USPTO. In the case of prioritized examination of a new patent application, the value of the award will be $4800.00 for a large entity.  In view of the fact that the award is a credit toward future services and is not transferable to others, the program offers the greatest financial incentive to large entities who are active patent filers. 

Applications will be accepted from March 1, 2012, through August 31, 2012. 

More information is available at a website dedicated to this program.