IPR and Global Warming: The Role of Patent Law

Dr Estelle Derclaye was invited to present her research at the centennial of the Belgian branch of the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property (AIPPI) on 10 December 2009. The conference theme was intellectual property and sustainable development and speakers included both lawyers and economists. Dr Derclaye discussed the current role played by patent laws in cooling the planet and suggested improvements, among others the introduction of a requirement of eco-friendliness to ban polluting inventions and further reward green ones.

The event was attended, among others, by the president of the Belgian Supreme court, I. Verougstraete, the Belgian Secretary for Enterprises, V. Van Quickenborne, the president of the AIPPI, T. Mollet-Vieville and the Director-General of the Belgian Intellectual Property Office, E. Simon.

Coincidentally, the conference took place during the Copenhagen United Nations Climate Conference.