Baby's First Patent

We got a patent! Here it is (pdf).

Why? Patents work both ways: by having this, we prevent others from monopolizing it. The one other company trying to do stratospheric aerosols is taking a *very* different approach from us... and we'd prefer not to allow them (or anyone else) to control this technology. 

Also, this lets us share. So, here we go:

We hereby issue an irrevocable right to use all IP governed by this patent to any entity that is deploying less than 1 ton per year to the stratosphere.

(we are not going to spend money lawyering this up, but we'll sign any reasonable legalese version someone provides)

But, does this mean we're money-grubbing capitalists against bigger things? Kinda:

If an entity is deploying more than 1 ton per year, we will very inexpensively license our IP to them. Depending on the deployment details, we may even pay them to deploy. Importantly, we'll insist on rigorous reporting requirements... to us.

Part of our half-baked plan is to become the source of truth for what aerosol deployments are occurring in the stratosphere globally. This is a Mini-Me step towards that goal.

Like much of what we do, this probably strikes many supporters and detractors as a nuanced moral position. But, these are the times that we live in. We work to build the world that we want, using the tools available to us, refusing to wait for others to someday maybe do something. Together, we Cool Earth!