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Asian filing stats show promise

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A 4.7% hike in worldwide patent filing, spurred on by the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), has been stimulated by increased activity in Asia. This finding comes from the 2007 Patent Report by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), which draws on figures from 2005 – the most recent year with complete statistics. While the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) have played significant roles in the rise, the contributions of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea are sure to please global IP observers.

The three North East Asian countries, together with their European and American counterparts, accounted for 77% of the 2005 spike.

In a press release, WIPO Director General, Dr Kamil Idris, said: ‘While the use of the system remains highly concentrated, we are seeing an historic evolution in the geography of innovation. With increased patenting activity in newly industrialising and emerging countries, we expect the pattern of ownership of patent rights worldwide will become more diversified over the coming years.’

He added: ‘information contained in patents and better analysis of data relating to patents is extremely valuable and for these reasons WIPO has enhanced its work relating to patent statistics. The current report is the most comprehensive yet, including an analysis of patenting activity by field of technology as well as improved statistical data on patent processing and patent life cycles.’

WIPO deputy director general, Francis Gurry, backed Dr Idris’s comments: ‘The PCT has now become the major route for international patent filing and WIPO is fully committed to further enhancing the system to ensure that it remains the efficient and cost-effective option for the international filing of patent applications.’