On 14 and 15 November the first two Dutch national patents were granted for The Ocean Cleanup system that allows plastic to be collected in the ocean. The corresponding international patent application has also been published. The innovative aspect of this system lies in the way in which the system brings the plastic together; it makes use of natural forces: wind, waves and sea current. Therefore it can efficiently collect the plastic without an external energy source.
Keeping control
The Ocean Cleanup is working on high-quality, innovative technology. The company is a strong advocate of the open source approach for the development thereof. A patent helps the organisation to keep control: it prevents other parties from misusing their invention and claiming rights of use. Good IP protection enables The Ocean Cleanup to have a say in the use of its innovation and promote maximum use thereof to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.
Our Support
V.O. has been an official supplier to The Ocean Cleanup since 2017. That was the year in which the organisation applied for its first patent. We assisted with the drafting and submission of the application. We also support Boyan Slat and his team in the intellectual property aspects of future innovations. In this way, the organisation’s innovative ideas can remain available without restrictions for combatting worldwide plastic pollution.
The international patent application can be viewed and downloaded here.
Source: The Ocean Cleanup
