Global patent filings grow at their fastest for 18 years

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Global patent filings grow at their fastest for 18 years

Applications from the Chinese for IP rights around the world have helped to drive levels of global IP growth in 2012, with global patent filings growing at their fastest rate for 18 years

The 2013 edition of WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Indicators, published today, reveals that, for the first time, China tops the ranking for both the source (filings by China) and the destination (filed in China) for patents, utility models, trade marks and industrial designs.

Of the top five IP offices worldwide (USPTO, JPO EPO, KIPO and SIPO), the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office was the only one to record double-digit growth for each of the four types of IP.

The rapid growth of IP applications into and from China contributed to 2012 as being the year in which global patent filings increased at its strongest rate in nearly two decades. Last year patent applications from individual inventors and companies topped 2.35 million, 9.2% more than in 2011.

But the growth in patent applications was distributed unevenly. SIPO saw the fastest growth in filings, up almost one-quarter on 2011. New Zealand followed with 14%, and Mexico with 9%. While other Bric countries saw applications rise by at least 2.7%, the picture in Europe was more mixed.

While the EPO, the UK and Germany each attracted at least 3.2% more applications for patents in 2012 compared to the year before, France and Italy each saw a dip in the number of applications received by their national offices.

IP offices in Europe also reported a dip in the number of trade mark classes for which applicants sought protection in 2012. While class counts filed world wide grew by 6% (although this was at a slower pace than in the previous two years), Italy saw an 8.3% decrease, while Germany and Spain reported falls of 6.4% and 5.6%, respectively.

In 2012, residents of China filed, worldwide, applications with more than 1.5 million class counts, almost triple the level from the US and almost four times as many as originated from France and Germany.

Following a slowdown in both 2008 and 2009, the numbers of industrial designs contained in applications has continued to rise. Last year applications grew by 17%.

“Following the 2009 financial crisis, global IP filings and global economic output have followed diverging paths,” said WIPO director-general Francis Gurry.“While economic recovery since the 2009 crisis has been uneven and has failed to bring down unacceptably high levels of unemployment, IP filings have increased at a faster rate than before the crisis.”

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Natasha Ahmed said she was drawn to the firm’s commitment to artificial intelligence and tech transactions
As it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the firm discusses private equity interest in IP, why the UPC is a key priority, and being a ‘strategic adviser’ to clients
Thomas Rukin discusses IP due diligence, his joy at seeing colleagues succeed, and taking inspiration from Marcus Aurelius
The UK-India trade deal doesn’t mention legal services, showing India has again failed to agree on a move that could help foreign firms and local practitioners
Eva-Maria Strobel reveals some of the firm’s IP achievements and its approach to client relationships
Lateral hires at Thompson Hine and Pierson Ferdinand said they were inspired by fresh business opportunities and innovative strategies at their new firms
The launch of a new IP insurance product and INTA hiring a former USPTO commissioner were also among the top talking points this week
The firm explains how it secured a $170.6 million verdict against the government in a patent dispute surrounding airport technology, and why the case led to interest from other inventors
Developments of note included the court partially allowing a claim concerning confidentiality clubs and a decision involving technology used in football matches
The firm said adding capability in the French capital completes its coverage of all major patent litigation jurisdictions as it strives for UPC excellence
Gift this article