WIPO To Discuss Role Of Patents In Access To Water

The World Intellectual Property Organization has waded into the global debates over access to safe drinking water, with an upcoming workshop on patents and water purification technologies.

The workshop on 22 March will be called, “The Role of Patent Information in Supporting Sustainable Access to Safe Drinking Water – Presentation of Patent Landscape Reports on ‘Water Desalination Technologies and the Use of Alternative Energies for Desalination’ and on ‘Water Treatment/Purification Technologies’.”

In will be held in conjunction with World Water Day 2012, in cooperation with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Institute for Water Environment and Health (GIWEH).

“The Workshop will offer an opportunity to learn about the role of patent information as a tool to support two pressing water challenges, namely, water desalination using alternative energies and water treatment/purification, for which two patent landscape reports (PLRs) have been prepared for WIPO by Cambridge Intellectual Property Ltd. in cooperation with IRENA and GIWEH,” WIPO said. “The Presentation on the PLRs will be followed by a Panel of experts in the field of water challenges and technologies and patent information, and time for dialogue between panelists and participants.”

The program is available here. Information about WIPO’s work on patent landscapes is here.