IP5 report shows growing popularity of patents

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

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

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

IP5 report shows growing popularity of patents

The number of patent applications filed at the five biggest IP offices grew 11% in 2012 to 1.876 million, according to figures published in the latest IP5 Statistics Report

The annual IP5 report – which compiles statistics from the EPO, JPO, KIPO, SIPO and USPTO – also found that:

  • 7.9 million patents were in force in the world at the end of 2011, an increase of 6.6%

  • 1.8 million patent applications were filed worldwide in 2011, 92% of which originated from the IP5

  • 923,979 patents were granted by the IP5 offices in 2012, an increase of 17%

The full report is published on the IP5 website.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

AIPPI has pulled the plug on its planned 2027 World Congress, and INTA has seemingly committed to hosting a meeting there, but the concerns won’t abate
Despite being outspent by a wealthy opponent, a trial attorney at King & Spalding says ‘relentless pursuit of the truth’ helped his team secure a $420m damages award for mobile gaming client
190 drugs face loss of exclusivity between 2026 and 2030, with the list including Bristol Myers Squibb’s blood-thinning drug Eliquis and immunotherapy medication Opdivo
Nokia, represented by a team from Bird & Bird, adjudged to have made fair offer to Asus and Acer in UK SEP dispute
Azhar Sadique and Kane Ridley, who founded the London office in 2023, are now both working in legal tech and AI-related roles, while another UK-based lawyer has also left
Partner Pierre Pérot rejoins the firm he left in 2022 alongside another returning lawyer, associate Camille Abba
Vaping dispute, in which Stobbs and Brandsmiths are the representatives, tested how the UK's Human Rights Act can apply to injunctions restraining unjustified threats
An AI platform being sold for £40m, and lateral hires involving law firms Womble Bond Dickinson and Cadwell Thomas were among the top talking points
With the London Annual Meeting behind us, we look back at some of the lessons learned this week and ahead to what 2027 will bring
In-house counsel aren’t impressed with law firms’ international networks, but practitioners say they are crucial for business
Gift this article