01/08/2008

WIPO. 2008 World Patent Report has been published

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published the 2008 World Patent Report.

The report, based on data from 2006 (the last year for which complete worldwide statistics are available), shows that patents granted worldwide increased by 18% during that year. This increase is considered substantial and, according to WIPO, it is due to efforts by patent offices to reduce backlogs and to the increase of the number of patents granted by China and the Republic of Korea. The United States is still the leader in patent granting.

Another interesting fact in the report is the growing tendency for applicants to file their applications in multiple countries. This trend toward increasing internationalisation of patent activity is demonstrated by the growth in international filings through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and in non-resident patent filings.

Finally, the increasing level of patent activity in emerging economies, in particular Brazil, India and Mexico, should be noted.

Related Links:
WIPO Related Press Release
2008 World Patent Report

Related news item in IPR-Helpdesk:
2007/08/20. WIPO. The 2007 Edition of the WIPO Patent Report has been published