The Nok is doing its bit for sustainability by literally giving away green-related patents. By joining the Eco-Patent Commons Nokia is gaining nobility alongside the likes of Sony and IBM.

The Eco-Patent Commons was set up by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD for short) in a drive to get eco-related patents held by big tech shared out amongst smaller-tech companies. The move enables greater sharing of knowledge on all things green and sustainable, further helping to make the world a better place.

Nokia currently has one patent in the Commons which basically “provides systems and methods for transforming cell phones [Mobiles] into new electronic devices, such as clocks, calculators, PDAs, remote controls etc”. Basically, the system strips out the electronics from a mobile and repurposes them for other, less strenuous uses such as counting and telling the time. It’s a genius idea to be fair and in the same way your old water bottle can now be worn as a fleece, your old mobile can now help the numerically illiterate to count properly.

Well done the Nok we say, more of the same please. IBM clearly has eff all else to do, given that it’s thrown 27 patents into the Commons ring. No wonder people don’t call it big blue any more.