1. Trademarks
a. The closest known item to be trademarked is SmartBin, (SMARTBIN Trademark of ONEPLUS SYSTEMS, INC. - Registration Number 5361601 - Serial Number 87022332 :: Justia Trademarks), although this technology only collects data on the fullness of the bin, not divided into subcategories of recyclables as the aforementioned Smart-AI Bin design
b. In order to implement this product into real world applications, a trademark must be sought after for the microchip/scanner technology that specifically scans for items to be subdivided into particular recyclable-based categories
2. Copyrights
a. Within the company CleanRobotics, the TrashBot parallels with the aforementioned design through its use of sorting recyclable items
b. However, the TrashBot design uses AI technology to scan the shape of each item instead of a microchip, making the accuracy of product division into their proper subcategories slim (TrashBot: The smart recycling bin that sorts at the point of disposal (cleanrobotics.com))
c. The TrashBot also, in contrast, is devised into separate, general categories of garbage, compost, and general recycling
i. This also leads to less accuracy in items being actually recycled and not ending up in landfills compared to the Smart AI Recycling Robot design
d. In order for this design to implemented, a copyright application must be completed for the specific categories the microchip technology sub-divides the items
3. Patents
a. A patent as already been filed for the technology to track where waste travels between distribution centers/general areas (TrashBot: The smart recycling bin that sorts at the point of disposal (cleanrobotics.com))
b. A patent has also been filed for a similar scanning technology of recyclable goods that is able to differentiate between human hands/actual waste items, providing more accuracy than TrashBot (US20140074298A1 - Smart Recycling System - Google Patents)
i. This Smart Recycling System hooks onto one’s personal trash-bin instead of being it’s own separate unit, possibly being a product our Smart AI Recycling System could partnership with to make the microchip technology/recycling accuracy levels more accessible