Public Ethics Radio: Matthew Rimmer on Intellectual Property and Clean Technology

Jun 23, 2010

Matthew Rimmer discusses intellectual-property policy for clean technologies. How do we both create new technologies and spread them as widely as possible? We need climate-friendly technology to be used everywhere, including in developing countries with limited resources.

Climate change exposes the trade-off inherent in intellectual property protection.

Research and development is expensive; companies won't invest in it if they don't expect to profit. Traditionally, profits from new technologies are provided by the exclusive rights granted by the patent system. But by granting patent rights, we ensure that new innovations will have a limited reach.

So how do we both create new technologies and spread them as widely as possible? We need climate-friendly technology to be used everywhere, including in developing countries with limited resources.

This episode of Public Ethics Radio explores the debate about intellectual-property policy for clean technologies.

You may also like

OCT 8, 2025 Video

The Fracturing of Democratic Institutions & the Variations of Autocracy

In this pre-Global Ethics Day event, leading scholar practitioners grapple with critical questions regarding the future of democracy.

OCT 6, 2025 Article

A Conversation with Carnegie Ethics Fellow Molly Schaeffer

This interview series profiles members of the CEF cohort. This talk features Molly Schaeffer, executive director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Asylum Seeker Operations.

OCT 1, 2025 Podcast

The Cost of Military Primacy, with Peter Harris

Colorado State's Peter Harris discusses what a less militarized future might look like for the U.S. and the Trump administration's impact on foreign policy.

Not translated

This content has not yet been translated into your language. You can request a translation by clicking the button below.

Request Translation