Question: How many oil companies own alternative energy patents?

[panader0]

I have heard many stories, such as the laser water heater that fits in your faucet and heats water instantaneously patent bought by the propane (gas) companies. Or about great gas saving carborators patents bought by oil companies. Anyone have any truths?

[msongs]

1. oil companies will buy up futuristic patents and bury them nt

[cdsilv]

3. Patent law should be modified....

..such that a patent MUST be exploited/developed/implemented w/in a certain amount of time or 'ownership' becomes null and void and the patent becomes public property.....something like that.

[madokie]

2. I've heard of it all my life and I think one of the oil companies has something to do with nichel

metal hydride batteries, my neighbor who has his own converted ev was telling me something like that anyway and hes usually pretty reliable. I just looked but not sure what to look for though so I came up empty.

[murielm99]

5. I believe it is possible to do

patent searches.

Individual inventors and business need to research before they try to patent something new. I just don't recall how to go about it.

The Chicago Public Library, the original one downtown, has a floor devoted to helping people do those kinds of searches. That is all I can remember.

[PDJane]

4. It's true.

My father was involved in developing a blue-flame oil burner; it would have provided enough heat for a complex and would have saved one hell of a lot of fuel. The patent was purchased by an oil company and the thing was never heard of again.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. My uncle's cousin's roommate invented a perpetual motion machine.

But he got assassinated by the oil companies when they put pop rocks in his coke.

I swear to god.