The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released the results of the international applications of patents, trademarks and industrial designs in 2019. China in 2019 surpassed the U.S. for the first time as the top source of international patent applications filed with the WIPO.
In 2019, international patent applications filed via the PCT grew by 5.2% (265,800 applications); while international trademark applications via the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks increased by 5.7% (64,400 applications); industrial designs via the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs saw a growth of 10.4% (21,807 designs).
・Top PCT filing countries
In 2019, the top five users of the PCT were: China (58,990), the U.S (57,840), Japan (52,660), Germany (19,353) and the Republic of Korea (19,085). Applicants based in Asia accounted for 52.4% of all PCT applications filed in 2019, while Europe (23.2%) and North America (22.8%) accounted for less than a quarter each. ・Top PCT filers For the third consecutive year, China-based telecoms giant Huawei Technologies, with 4,411 published PCT applications, was the top corporate filer in 2019. The top 10 applicant list comprises four companies from China, two from the Republic of Korea, and one each from Germany, Japan, Sweden and the U.S. Of the top 10 applicants, six filed mainly in digital communication, namely, Ericsson, Guang Dong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications, Huawei Technologies, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm.
[TOP 10 PCT applicants in 2019]
[TOP 10 Chinese PCT applicants in 2019] ・Top technologies
Among the fields of technology, computer technology (8.7% of total) accounted for the largest share of published PCT applications, followed by digital communication (7.7%), electrical machinery (7%), medical technology (6.9%) and measurement (4.7%). Among the top 10 technologies, semiconductors (+12%) and computer technology (+11.9%) were the fields with the highest rates of growth in 2019.
・Top Madrid filing countries
U.S.-based applicants (10,087) filed the highest number of international trademark applications using WIPO's Madrid System in 2019, followed by those located in Germany (7,700), China (6,339), France (4,437) and Switzerland (3,729).
・Top Madrid filers
L'Oréal of France with 189 applications headed the list of top filers, followed by Novartis AG of Switzerland (135), Huawei Technologies of China (131), Nirsan Connect Private Limited of India (124) and Rigo Trading of Luxembourg (103). Nirsan Connect filed 82 more applications in 2019 than in 2018, elevating its ranking from the 22nd to the 4th.
・Top classes
The most-specified class in international applications – computers and electronics – accounted for 10.1% of the total, followed by services for business (8.3%) and technological services (6.7%). Among the top 10 classes, pharmaceuticals and other preparations for medical purposes (+12.4%), and services in the area of education, training, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities (+9.6%) saw the fastest growth.
・Top Hague filing countries
Germany, with 4,487 designs, continued to be the largest user of the international design system. The Republic of Korea (2,736 designs) surpassed Switzerland (2,178) to become the second largest users of the Hague System in 2019. Italy and the Netherlands ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, with 1,994 and 1,376 designs. Among the top five origins, the Republic of Korea (+77.1%) and Italy (+58.1%) saw the fastest growth, while Switzerland (11.2%) saw a sharp drop in 2019.
・Top Hague filers
Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea with 929 designs in published registrations headed the list of top filers, followed by Fonkel Meubel Marketing of the Netherlands (859 designs), LG Electronics of the Republic of Korea (598 designs), Volkswagen of Germany (536 designs) and Procter & Gamble of the U.S. (410 designs). The top 10 applicants list consists of two applicants each from Italy, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea and the U.S., and one each from France and Germany.
・Top fields
Designs related to recording and communication equipment (13.6%) accounted for the largest share of total designs in 2019, followed by furnishing (10.1%), means of transport (9.4%), packages and containers (6.4%), and lighting apparatus (6.2%). Among the top 10 classes, recording and communication equipment (+46.4%) and clothing (35.1%) saw the fastest growth.
Source:https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2020/article_0005.html