Record Strong Growth In Global IP Filings
06 April 2016
Global intellectual property filings saw an all-time record surge, further underscoring the importance of IP in today’s global knowledge economy. The findings were released through a report recently published by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
In 2015, international patent applications filed under WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty System grew by 1.7% to 218,000, setting a new annual record with the United States filing 57,385 PCT filings and maintaining its lead for 38 years in a row. This is followed by Japan with 44,235 PCT filings, and China with 29,846 PCT filings. The three countries were most notable in leading innovation on the computer technology and digital telecommunication frontiers. The report also revealed that the US topped the list of trade applications via WIPO’s Madrid System3 which saw an overall growth of 2.9%, from 47,885 filings in 2014 to 49,273 fillings in 2015.
According to the US Commerce Department, IP-intensive industries directly accounted for 27.1 million American jobs and about US$5.06 trillion in valueadded (about 35%) to its gross domestic product in 2010. In Singapore, IP-related industries accounted for almost half of Singapore’s GDP and generated 1.3 million jobs, which was about 43% of total employment in Singapore between 2011 and 2013. Such indicators strongly testify to the importance of IP as a driver of innovation and economic growth, as well as galvanising business activities worldwide.
Riding on the trajectory of innovation and the surge of global IP filings, Singapore remains well positioned to partner the US, Japan and countries around the world through the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. Since 1st April 2016, IPOS had operationalised its International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority, for patent applications entering the US and Japanese markets. Businesses around the world seeking to fast-track their patent applications in multiple markets may do so in a single application via IPOS, and enjoy more time and cost efficient access to the global patent filing system.
Mr. Hitoshi Ito, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office said, “2016 is the year of the 50th Anniversary of Singapore-Japan Diplomatic Relations, and also marks a significant milestone of achievement between our offices. We made sure of addressing IP issues so that we can support expanding businesses between Singapore and Japan, as well as between ASEAN and Japan."
Mr. Daren Tang, Chief Executive of IPOS said, “As an IP office built upon Singapore’s great cultural diversity and international expertise, IPOS is honoured to have forged strategic global partnerships that will further our common goal of spurring development through innovation, and helping innovators succeed through IP.”
