Suzuki Offers Royalty-Free Patent Licenses for Micro-Plastic Collecting Device on Outboard Motors
Suzuki Motor Corporation will allow royalty-free use of 34 patents related to its outboard motor micro-plastic collecting device to promote marine environmental conservation.
- 34
- 5
- Yes
What Happened
Plastic waste flowing into the ocean is broken down into micro-plastics, which harm marine ecosystems. Suzuki developed the world's first micro-plastic collecting device for outboard motors, which captures particles near the water surface as the boat runs without affecting engine performance. The device uses the engine's cooling-water passage to filter micro-plastics.
Suzuki obtained its first patent for the micro-plastic collecting device.
Suzuki began production of outboard motors equipped with the device as standard on select models.
Suzuki announced royalty-free licensing of 34 patents related to the device.
34patents
including pre-grant phase applications
- DF140BG
- DF115BG
- DF140B
- DF115B
- DF100C
Why this matters
This initiative could accelerate the adoption of micro-plastic collection technology on outboard motors, helping reduce marine plastic pollution without adding cost for manufacturers.
Terms in This Story
- Outboard motor
- A self-contained propulsion system for boats, mounted externally at the stern.
- Micro-plastic
- Small plastic particles less than 5mm that pollute oceans and can be ingested by marine life.
- Royalty-free
- Permission to use intellectual property without paying ongoing fees to the owner.
- Patent portfolio
- A collection of patents owned by a company covering related inventions.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.