WIPO stats show China is an IP powerhouse

13/11/2018

Statistics compiled by WIPO (see http://www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/) reflect an interesting, but perhaps not surprising, trend in relation to the activity of Chinese entities seeking registered IP rights.

In the 10 years since 2007 the total number of applications for patents, trade marks and industrial designs by Chinese entities have increased 680%, 518% and 188% respectively reaching an annual total for 2016 of just over 6.2 million applications worldwide. 

Over the same period applications for patents, trade marks and industrial designs by US entities have increased 19%, 25% and 65% respectively reaching an annual total for 2016 of just over 2.4 million applications worldwide.

Reflecting Australia’s “minnow” status on the world stage, filings by Australian entities for patents, trade marks and industrial designs have decreased 2% and increased 49% and 1%, respectively reaching an annual total for 2016 of just over 0.23 million applications worldwide.

These are of course just numbers and it could be argued that the quality of the IP in the applications is more important.  However, there is no denying China’s arrival on the world IP stage.

Table – Change in number of applications (worldwide) for IP rights from Chinese, US and Australian entities

Data in table based on statistics available at http://www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/