An intriguing development in the long running mess over carbon nanotube patents. News from various sources says that “NEC Corp. asserted Wednesday (March 3) that it owns essential patents on carbon nanotubes and, as a result, all companies seeking to make or sell carbon nanotube materials must obtain licenses from NEC.”
Given that our recent nanotubes report found that China has already overtaken Japan in both the number of companies and total production capacity of all varieties of carbon nanotubes, and is number two or three in all sectors, and that Nanotube IP is one of the messiest areas of nanotechnology, this one will run and run.
The fact that NEC is beginning to flex its IP muscles is a clear signal that nanotubes are no longer a wonder material with no applications. With total global production capacity of multiwalled nanotubes reaching 100 tons a year have we reached the tipping point?