While debates on moratorium on intellectual property related to novel coronavirus vaccines continue, Hitachi ABB Power Grids Ltd. (a joint venture) and General Electric (GE) were able to agree to cooperative sharing of intellectual property in another field. These companies are entering into a cross-licensing agreement, announced April 21, that will allow both to complement their utilization of insulation and switching gases.
While high voltage electricity delivery has depended on sulfur hexafluoride (SF[6]) for insulation for some time, it is considered a harmful greenhouse gas. GE and Hitachi have been researching SF[6]-free alternatives, and particularly GE’s g^3 technologies are seen as a great step forward. Hitachi has SF[6]-free solutions of its own, hence the cross-licensing agreement.
The agreement is non-exclusive and both companies will remain mutually independent in their operations, but the move makes possible broader application of less ecologically costly delivery of electricity across cities. The balance of exclusive use of intellectual property with sharing and cross-licensing helps innovation and eco-friendly work move forward.
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Taro Yaguchi
Sources
“GE and Hitachi ABB Power Grids Sign Landmark Agreement to Reduce Environmental Impact in the Electrical Transmission Industry.” https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2021-04-21/ge-and-hitachi-abb-power-grids-sign-landmark-agreement-to-reduce-environmental-impact-in-the-electrical-transmission-industry April 21, 2021. Accessed April 22, 2021.
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