Member Article

Global filings up and China moves closer to the top spot

The latest data on global patent applications indicates that innovation activity has increased for the 8th year in a row and applications from China grew by 36 percent in 2017.

Data released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has revealed that that the number of applications made under the organisation’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) increased by 4.5 percent to around 243,500 in 2017. The US represents the biggest source of filings, whilst China has moved into second position; pushing Japan into third. China could overtake the US as the biggest source of applicants in three years based on current trends, according to WIPO.

Applicants in the UK accounted for 5,567 of the total number of PCT applications made in 2017, up 1.2 percent on the previous year. Of the European nations, the UK is currently the 3rd most prolific filer of PCT applications – below France and Germany and above the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden.

Karl Barnfather, chairman and patent attorney at intellectual property firm, Withers & Rogers, said:

“Yet more evidence that innovation activity is increasing – not just in Europe, but globally, and it is good to see that the volume of PCT applications originating in the UK has increased.

“The data also reveals that international trade mark applications have risen and those originating in the UK increased by 9.3 percent to 3,292 in 2017.

“This data confirms that businesses are becoming more aware of the value of commercial protection but there is still a big gap between individual nations. As China steps up the innovation ladder, UK innovators must make sure they don’t fall behind and remain competitive globally.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Withers & Rogers .