Who owns the sun? Patent law and clean energy

There is a trade war brewing between the United States and China over intellectual property relating to clean technologies – particularly solar power.

Steven Chu, a scientist, Nobel Laureate in Physics, and Secretary of the United States Department of Energy, commented: “When it comes to the clean energy race, America faces a simple choice: compete or accept defeat”.

The United States and China have a volatile relationship when it comes to intellectual property and climate change. They vacillate between co-operation, mistrust, and outright conflict.

The rivalry between the United States and China will have important implications for energy security, climate change, and trade in the global economy.