By Michael Messinger and Casey Berger ( March 12, 2018, 12:08 PM EDT) -- We take an initial look at patent activity and strategy by a new type of company: public benefit corporations (also called PBCs or B corps if certified). PBCs are unique from both conventional for-profit and nonprofit companies in the way they combine for-profit and public benefit aims. These public benefits can be verifiable social or environmental goals with impacts beyond company profit. In this way, PBCs often seek to align their missions with a more expansive and long-term view of value creation.[1] As Mahatma Gandhi challenged — to be the change we wish to see....