EPO sees record patenting levels, but national fortunes are mixed

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

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

EPO sees record patenting levels, but national fortunes are mixed

The world might be reeling from recession but it seems as if companies are innovating ­ – or at least patenting – their way out of it. Filings at the EPO were up 5.7% last year, with China recording growth of 11.3%

Only one country in the list of top 10 national filers saw a decline in its number of filings: applications from Italy were down 4%.

Applications from the US, South Korea, Japan and Switzerland all grew by more than 5% on 2011, according to figures released today by the EPO.

China now accounts for 7.3% of applications at the EPO. The picture for its fellow BRIC countries is mixed: applications from Brazil rose by 7.1%, while applications from Russia and India fell (7.7% and 8.7% respectively).

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Kelly Thompson, chair of South African firm Adams & Adams, discusses self-belief, self-doubt, and the importance of saying yes
The renowned food brands were represented by a host of lawyers, including members of the firms’ IP teams
Partners at Bird & Bird and Taylor Wessing discuss how Saudi Arabia offers unique opportunities for firms dealing in IP and tech
Attorneys explain why there are early signs that the US Supreme Court could rule in favour of ISP Cox in a copyright dispute
A swathe of UPC-related hires suggests firms are taking the forum seriously, as questions over the transitional stage begin
A win for Nintendo in China and King & Spalding hiring a prominent patent litigator were also among the top talking points
Rebecca Newman at Addleshaw Goddard, who live-reported on the seminal dispute, unpicks the trials and tribulations of the case and considers its impact
Attorneys predict how Lululemon’s trade dress and design patent suit against Costco could play out
Lawyers at Linklaters analyse some of the key UPC trends so far, and look ahead to life beyond the transition period
David Rodrigues, who previously worked at an IP boutique, said he may become more involved in transactional work at his new firm
Gift this article