Oil and gas companies should release their cleantech patents into the public domain because the technology is urgently required to tackle environmental problems.

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Pro: Unless cleantech is made patent free, developing nations who urgently require the technology will not be able to use it to lower their carbon emissions.

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Pro: Global warming threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Averting this crisis is a huge collective benefit.

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Con: Releasing cleantech patents into the public domain is not a requirement to ensure rapid adoption of the technology.