China
is seen as having a weak record on intellectual property, but
130,000 patents were filed in Bejing in 2004, the most recently
measured year. Of those, 65,000 were filed by Chinese people, which
represents a six fold increase in patent filings in 10
years.
"Patent statistics are increasingly recognised as useful
indicators of inventive activity and of technology flows," said the
WIPO report on worldwide patent registration patterns.
WIPO has compiled the statistics which show patent filing
numbers across the world and distinguish between filings by
residents and by foreign people and companies.
"The report shows a marked increase in the use of the patent
system internationally," said Dr Kamil Idris, director general of
WIPO. "It shows that the patent system is being used for its
intended purposes, namely to stimulate innovation and promote
economic activity."
The number of patents filed worldwide has almost doubled in the
past 20 years. The annual growth of patent filing numbers rate
has been similar to the growth of global gross domestic product,
the report found.
The most significant increases in filings have been caused by
international companies filing patents in many countries. "The bulk
of the increase in total filings is accounted for by international
patent applications," said a WIPO statement. "Large increases in
foreign patents filings in countries like Brazil, China, India,
Korea and Mexico reflect the internationalisation of markets and
production."
"Companies seeking new export markets or investing overseas are
keen on protecting their inventions in these key emerging
economies," said the statement.
WIPO found, though, that the use of patents is still highly
concentrated in a few hands, and that five patent offices still
account for 75%. Those five are the offices of the US, Japan,
Europe, South Korea and China.
