This discussion is only just beginning.  With a much larger cap for Federal support on Smart Grid demonstration projects, the “big guys” have weighed in (GE, IBM, Cisco, etc).  One hopes that this will still allow the smaller entrepreneurs to have a seat at the table and feel comfortable that their IP is secure.  Issues on intellectual property rights will also be critical for all players as it extends to the broader international environment.

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/will-energy-ideas-be-private-or-public/