According to water.org, 3.4 million people die each year from water borne illnesses, and 780 million people lack access to clean water. In response to the great need for sanitation, Kohler, Caltech and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are bringing solar-powered toilets to India through the research of Dr. Michael Robert Hoffman and his research team.  Alissa Walker and Gizmodo brought this to my attention.

The toilet is solar powered and requires no plumbing.

It uses an electrical current generated by the solar panels to convert the salt found in urine into bleach, and then uses the bleach to disinfect the waste in the toilet.  Once the water in the toilet is cleaned, it is reused to flush the toilet.  Style points for building the entire thing out in a decorated shipping container.

So what kind of intellectual property have they (either Kohler or Caltech) developed?

  1. potential patentability of the process of creating a disinfectant from urine
  2. potential patentability of the components of the toilet
  3. potential patentability of the electrical systems required to create the disinfectant
  4. potential design patentability of the toilet
  5. potential design patentability of the restroom built out in a shipping container
  6. copyright in the paintings on the exterior of the shipping container
  7. copyright in the tile designs on the interior of the bathroom
  8. copyright in the video and in the photos
  9. trade secret in the details regarding the amount of electricity, amount of salt, and other variables that optimize the process (to the extent not disclosed in a patent application)

Keep in mind that there is very likely an agreement, such as a sponsored research agreement, between Kohler and Caltech that designates who will own the intellectual property being developed. More about Caltech's research on this project is here.

Have you thought about what kind of intellectual property you are flushing away?

Kohler's press release is here.

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