Plextronics sees profits in conductive polymers

As disposable radio tags replace bar codes for tracking goods, demand is expected to explode for plastics that conduct electricity.

That’s driving a Carnegie Mellon University spinoff, Plextronics Inc., which sees big potential in the conductive polymers it is developing.

The state Department of Economic Development and Smithfield Trust Co., a private asset-management firm, are investing $3 million to help the Pittsburgh-based company.

“It’s very exciting because all at once your credit card becomes a little computer,” said Timothy Swager, chemistry professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Things get pretty interesting when you start doing that and almost at no cost.”

The science behind Plextronics’ plastics — which Swager considers state of the art — is based on the work of Richard McCullough, dean of CMU’s College of Science.

Although many types of inherently conductive polymers exist, McCullough said his formula conducts more electricity and can be manufactured in large quantities more cheaply.

Plextronics has been focusing its efforts on Plexcore, a static-free floor coating. McCullough said Plexcore can be adapted for use as radio tags, which retailers are demanding for inventory control.

Technology

Italy cracking down on illegal file-sharing

Italy’s parliament has passed one of the world’s toughest laws aimed at fighting illegal file-sharing and other Internet piracy, with prison time among the penalties.

The law calls for up to three years in prison for using the Internet illegally for commercial purposes. Such offenses include selling content for which the vendor does not hold the intellectual rights.

Fines for infringements run as high as $300,350, though smaller fines of up to $1,250 would be imposed for simply downloading copyrighted works for personal use.

The Culture Ministry says the law, which recently went into effect, was necessary to apply intellectual-property protections to Internet file-sharing.

Such laws are usually hard to enforce and discourage artists who rely on the Internet to promote their work, said Robin Gross, head of IP Justice, a nonprofit that aims to promote a balance between protection of intellectual property and free use of the Internet.

“This is the most extreme law that been passed against peer-to-peer file-sharing internationally,” Gross said.