According to data recently released by IFI Claims, a whopping 333,530 utility patents were granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office in 2019. This number represents an impressive 15% jump from the 288,832 patents issued in 2018 and is the greatest number of patents ever issued in a single year.
Technology dominated the U.S. patent filings in 2019. Tech giants IBM and Samsung remained patent leaders. IBM was granted an impressive 9,262 patents, and Samsung trailed behind at 6,469. Canon (3,548 patents), Microsoft (3,081 patents) and Intel (3,020 patents) rounded out the top five. Notably, electrical digital data processing, transmission of digital information, and semiconductor devices (including electric SSDs) were the largest patent categories in 2019.
Innovation in the medical and biotechnology sectors also continued to grow in 2019. The creation of new hybrid plants, CRISPR genome editing, and medicinal preparations were among the top technology trends experiencing the fastest patent classification growth.
While patents do not necessarily reflect what products will ultimately end up in the market, patent data helps shed light on trends in technology and innovation. What remains to be seen is if this rapid growth will continue in 2020.
As reported by the Associated Press, Columbia Sportswear has sued Columbia University, claiming that the university infringed the sportswear company’s trademark and breached an agreement between the…
Verizon and Headwater Research LLC have reportedly agreed to settle a patent infringement lawsuit that ended with a $175 million USD jury verdict against the telecom giant. Headwater, a…
In a recent copyright infringement case, the Jiangsu High Court ruled in favor of Nintendo, awarding the company approximately $28,000 USD, or 200,000 RMB, and an injunction against an unnamed…
Recent tariff measures affecting pharmaceutical products and ingredients have introduced new compliance and cost considerations for manufacturers, distributors, and importers operating in Canada and…
As reported by Reuters, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Roger Hodgson, the former Supertramp singer and songwriter, must compensate three former band members for a share of…
As reported by Reuters, three former employees of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ("TSMC") were charged with violating security law and other offences in Taiwan. The prosecutors have…
