Harrity Patent Analytics Releases the 2026 Patent 300® Report

Firm News, General, Patent 300, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics, Team , , , , , ,

Harrity Patent Analytics Releases the 2026 Patent 300® Report
Top 300 Patent Innovators Ranked by U.S. Utility Patents Granted in 2025

WASHINGTON (January 26, 2026) – Harrity Patent Analytics is proud to announce the release of the 2026 Patent 300® Report. This annual report ranks the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities based on the total number of U.S. utility patents issued in the previous year.

The 2026 Patent 300® reveals notable shifts in innovation leadership across industries, with significant gains in patent filings by major players in the semiconductor, electronics, and automotive sectors. The list represents over 54% of the more than 330,000 patents issued in 2025.

Top 10 Organizations from the 2026 Patent 300® Report:

  1. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. – 7,519 patents (+12% YoY)
  2. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. – 4,232 patents (+6% YoY)
  3. Qualcomm – 3,856 patents (+10% YoY)
  4. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. – 3,480 patents (+6% YoY)
  5. Canon K.K. – 2,987 patents (+13% YoY)
  6. Samsung Display Co., Ltd. – 2,924 patents (+11% YoY)
  7. Toyota Jidosha K.K. – 2,907 patents (+19% YoY)
  8. Apple Inc. – 2,856 patents (-8% YoY)
  9. IBM – 2,467 patents (-11% YoY)
  10. Dell Technologies – 2,445 patents (+38% YoY)

“The Patent 300® continues to provide a clear window into the world’s innovation leaders,” said Rocky Berndsen, Head of Patent Analytics at Harrity & Harrity. “This year’s data shows impressive growth in semiconductor and display technologies, alongside a strong resurgence in patenting activity at companies like Dell and Toyota.”

In addition to the full report, Harrity offers access to the Patent 300® Dashboard, the IP industry’s leading analytics platform for patent insights and competitive intelligence. The dashboard includes hundreds of companies and delivers detailed prosecution metrics, portfolio analytics, technology area segmentation, and budget modeling.

From technology giants to pioneering startups and leading research institutions, the 2026 Patent 300® Report is the industry benchmark for assessing innovation through patent activity.

To explore the full rankings and access the Patent 300® Dashboard, visit: www.harrityllp.com/patent300

About Harrity Patent Analytics
Harrity Patent Analytics, a division of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, specializes in advanced patent data analysis to help clients make informed strategic decisions. Our tools are built to support the IP strategies of Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and universities with actionable insights into patent portfolios and filing trends. Learn more at harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics.

Autonomous Vehicles: Driving Innovation

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , , , , , , , ,


By Ayana Marshall, PhD

Autonomous Vehicles: Driving Innovation 

Autonomous vehicles (AVs), commonly referred to as self-driving cars, use a combination of sensors, cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate their surroundings and make driving decisions without human intervention. 

Patent Age Distribution: Insights into Innovation Maturity 

The age distribution of patents in the autonomous vehicle sector provides valuable insights into the maturity of innovation within this industry. A histogram of patent data reveals that the majority of patents are concentrated in younger age brackets. The largest group of patents falls within the 2–4-year range, followed by those aged 4–6 years, with portfolio sizes steadily decreasing as patents age.  

Forward and Backward Citations: Innovation Interplay 

An analysis of patent citation dynamics further illustrates the competitive landscape of the autonomous vehicle industry. Forward citations, which indicate how often a patent is referenced by later inventions, and backward citations, reflecting references to prior patents, provide a comprehensive view of companies’ innovative strategies. Alphabet Inc. and Amazon.com, Inc. lead in forward citations while Iflight Technology Co. Ltd. has the highest average backward citations. This balance between advancing future technologies and leveraging prior knowledge demonstrates the interplay of innovation within the sector. 

Insights from Patent Activity 

The data on autonomous vehicle patents highlights a technology field where companies are both influencing future developments and building on prior achievements through the interplay of forward and backward citations. Together, these insights paint a picture of the autonomous vehicle industry, showcasing the ongoing advancements in this field. 

Data Source 

The data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Autonomous Vehicles.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

 

Driving the Future: Exploring Patenting in Autonomous Vehicle Technology

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , , , , , , , ,


By Ayana Marshall, PhD

Autonomous vehicles (AVs), or self-driving cars, rely on sensors, cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate and operate without human input. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines six levels of automation, ranging from Level 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation in all conditions). As this technology evolves, what role do patents play in shaping its future?  

Patent Leaders in Autonomous Vehicle Technology 

The chart highlights the top companies driving innovation in autonomous vehicle technology based on their total patents and pending applications. Toyota Motor Corporation leads followed by Alphabet Inc., through its subsidiary Waymo, also demonstrates a strong presence, closely followed by General Motors and other major players such as Robert Bosch GmbH, Ford Motor Company, and Amazon.com, Inc. Notably, the variety of companies—ranging from traditional automakers like Hyundai and Nissan to prominent technology companies like Intel and Amazon—illustrates the multidisciplinary nature of autonomous vehicle development.  

Trends in Patent Age and Activity Over Time 

Continuing from the previous discussion on patent activities, the bar chart reflects the trend of patent ages in the autonomous vehicles sector from 2014 to 2023. It shows two sets of data: the number of total patents and total pending patent applications per year. The chart indicates a growing stack of pending applications atop the existing patents over the years. The average age of these patents is noted as 4.8 years.  

Insights from Patent Activity 

The data on autonomous vehicle technology patents reveals a dynamic and competitive landscape, showcasing an active environment of innovation. Leading companies have built substantial patent portfolios, reflecting their commitment to advancing the field. Additionally, the interplay of forward and backward citations highlights the sector’s balance between influencing future developments and building on prior innovations. Together, these insights offer a detailed view of the evolving autonomous vehicle industry. 

The data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Autonomous Vehicles.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

 

Navigating the Future of Sustainable Transport: Patent Trends in Electric Vehicles and Electrified Roadways

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , , , , , ,


By Ayana Marshall, PhD

Electric vehicles (EVs) and electrified roadways represent two major technological advances in sustainable transportation, each with distinct developments. Electric vehicles have become a cornerstone of efforts to reduce emissions, and many countries are adopting EV technologies. This transition has seen continuous growth in innovation, with countries across Europe and the U.S. investing in charging infrastructure and battery technologies to support the increasing number of EVs on the road. 

Electrified roadways are an emerging technology designed to support electric vehicles by providing a dynamic charging solution as the vehicles move. Sweden is currently leading this effort, constructing the world’s first permanent electrified road on a section of one the highways, expected to be operational by 2025. This road, among several being tested in Europe, will allow vehicles to charge while driving using one of several technologies, including inductive or conductive systems embedded in the road. Electrified roadways could reduce dependency on large vehicle batteries and further accelerate the transition to electric transport by alleviating range anxiety and reducing the demand for stationary charging. 

Patent Trends in Electric Vehicles and Electrified Roadways: A Comparative Analysis 

While both electric vehicles (EVs) and electrified roadways represent key innovations in sustainable transportation, their development trajectories, as seen through patent publications, reveal notable differences. Patent publication trends for Electric Vehicles and Electrified Roadways reveal distinct patterns over the past decade. From 2014 to 2022, electric vehicle-related publications steadily increased but show a -3.1% decline in three-year growth, suggesting a recent slowdown.  

In contrast, Electrified Roadways has seen a more variable trend, with notable peaks around 2018-2019 and 2023, and a significant 35.6% growth over the last three years. This comparison highlights differing trajectories in patent activity, with electrified roadways showing a marked increase in recent innovations compared to the decreasing trend in electric vehicles. 

Top Companies Driving Electrified Roadway Innovation: A Patent Overview 

These trends reflect the growing interest in exploring diverse solutions to increase the sustainability features of the transportation sector, and Electrified Roadways have garnered attention from a range of innovators. The patent landscape in this field includes key players such as Beijing Boyang Dingrong Pv Technology Co., Ltd., Zhong Hui Powerise Wireless Power Technology Ltd., Toyota Motor Corporation and Ford Motor Company, with Toyota standing out due to a number of pending applications. Other major contributors include General Motors and Siemens AG. Academic institutions like South China University of Technology and Nanjing University of Technology are also prominent, along with Hevo Incorporated, which is involved in wireless power transfer solutions. Capactech Limited and other organizations complete this landscape of patent holders in the electrified roadway sector. 

Building on the Past: Key Innovators through the Lens of Backward Citations 

Following the analysis of top companies driving innovation in Electrified Roadways, the data on backward citations further highlights key players in the electric vehicle and roadway sectors. The chart lists the top assignees that appear most frequently in backward citations. Toyota Motor Corporation leads with 20 citations, followed by Ford Motor Company with 14, and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. with 13. Other notable companies include General Motors, WiTricity Corporation, and State Grid Corporation of China, each contributing to significant technological influence through frequent citations. Additional companies such as Hitachi, Ltd., Siemens AG, and Cisco Systems, Inc. are also present, showcasing a wide array of global leaders impacting the development of electric vehicle and roadway technology through their foundational innovations. 

Summarizing the Electric Vehicles and Electrified Roadways Landscape 

The patent trends for Electric Vehicles and Electrified Roadways reveal a landscape focused on transforming the future of transportation. While electric vehicle innovation shows a recent slowdown, electrified roadways are seeing a surge in new developments. Leading companies such as Beijing Boyang Dingrong Pv Technology Co., Ltd., Zhong Hui Powerise Wireless Power Technology Ltd., Toyota, Ford, and Siemens are driving this innovation, and the backward citation data underscores their technological influence, along with other major players like Honda and WiTricity. Together, these trends and key contributors highlight a path towards creating a more efficient and sustainable transportation infrastructure via dynamic charging solutions. 

The data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Reports on Electric Vehicles and Electrified Roads.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

Resources: 

https://thenextweb.com/news/sweden-worlds-first-permanent-e-road-for-ev-charging-while-driving 

https://www.electrive.com/2023/05/09/sweden-pioneers-permanent-electrified-road-to-charge-evs-on-the-move/ 

https://www.popsci.com/technology/sweden-electric-highway/ 

https://mobilityportal.eu/5-european-countries-projects-electrified-roads/ 

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/2024/Q2/building-the-first-highway-segment-in-the-u-s-that-can-charge-electric-vehicles-big-and-small-as-they-drive/ 

https://www.archpaper.com/2024/04/electric-charging-roads-next-new-thing/ 

 

Gate Keepers vs. the Hindered: 102 Blocking in Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Telecommunications

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , , , , , , ,


By Ayana Marshall, PhD 

In the rapidly evolving sector of wireless telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving major innovations, from network optimization to intelligent data processing. As companies race to secure patents that protect their innovations, 102 blocking patents play a critical role in shaping the competitive landscape. These patents—granted to earlier innovations—can prevent new applications from being approved. The Patent Pulse™ report delves into this landscape, highlighting the major players that hold blocking patents and those that frequently encounter barriers.  

 

Gate Keepers: Controlling the Flow of AI Patents in Wireless Telecommunications 

In the AI-driven wireless telecommunications industry, certain companies stand out as “gatekeepers”. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. leads this category, with 144 blocking patents. LG Electronics Inc. and Alphabet Inc. follow with 62 and 12 blocking patents, respectively, while companies like Microsoft and Intel also hold portfolios that play a role in defining the boundaries for future innovations.  

The Hindered: Companies Facing Patent Roadblocks 

On the other side of the equation are the companies whose patent applications are frequently hindered by blocking patents. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a top gatekeeper, faces obstacles in 28 instances. Other notable companies on the hindered list include Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, LG Electronics Inc., and Nokia Corporation.  

The Strategic Importance of AI Patents in Wireless Telecommunications 

The AI patent landscape in wireless telecommunications includes companies that own patents that protect early innovations. For companies on the hindered side, understanding the patent ecosystem and finding ways to innovate around existing claims are crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. 

The Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ report provides critical insights into this dynamic, helping companies understand where they stand in the race for AI-driven innovation in wireless telecommunications. The data is sourced from the Patent Pulse™ Report on Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Telecommunications.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

Neuromorphic Revolution: Patents Fueling the Future of Brain-Inspired Computing

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , , , , , ,

Neuromorphic Revolution: Patents Fueling the Future of Brain-Inspired Computing
By Ayana Marshall, PhD 

Neuromorphic chips and neuromorphic computing are innovative technologies that are promising to revolutionize the way information is processed. Inspired by the architecture and functioning of the human brain, the chips are designed to mimic neural networks, enabling faster, more efficient, and adaptive computing (Mead, 1990; Indiveri & Liu, 2015). The current landscape of neuromorphic chip development is explored through an analysis of patents and pending application data. 

The key players driving innovation in this field are included on the chart. 

  • International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. have the most patents and pending applications, which are followed by Intel Corporation.
  • The data also underscores the contributions of South Korean companies and institutions, such as SK Hynix Inc. and Seoul National University. 
  • American corporations in this space include General Motors Company, Microchip Technology Inc., and Qualcomm, Inc. 
  • Applied Brain Research Inc., a Canadian company, is also represented.
  • European and Chinese institutions highlight the diverse range of international players working in the neuromorphic technology space. For example, the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) from France, and Tsinghua University and Peking University from China. 
  • This distribution of patents and pending applications underscores the strategic importance of neuromorphic technology in companies across different regions. 

 

Neuromorphic Chips: A Snapshot of Key Developments 

  1. Intel’s Loihi 2 Chip: Intel launched the Loihi 2 chip a few years ago, enhancing neuromorphic computing with better performance and scalability, alongside the new Lava software framework for AI applications (Intel Newsroom). More recently, Intel unveiled the largest-ever neuromorphic computer, Hala Point, which is powered by over one thousand Loihi 2 processors. Hala Point is designed to mimic the human brain by processing data through spiking neural networks while achieving massive energy efficiency and computational capacity for AI tasks (Hala Point). 
  1. IBM’s Brain-Inspired Research: IBM is advancing brain-inspired computing, integrating neuromorphic chips into AI and cognitive systems, aiming to revolutionize industries like healthcare and finance (IBM Research Blog).

 

The chart provides a comparative analysis of key players in the neuromorphic chip industry, focusing on the Technological Diversity and Influence (measured by forward citations per patent) metrics.

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM): Leads in Tech Diversity with a score of 61.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.: Ranks in both Tech Diversity and Influence.
Tsinghua University: Has the highest average forward citations per patent (4.9).
General Motors Company: Notable for a high Influence score (3.6). 

Summarizing the Neuromorphic Chip Landscape 

The data analysis presented throughout this discussion has provided a view of the current landscape in neuromorphic chip innovation. IBM and Samsung Electronics stand out for the volume of their patent portfolios and broad technological diversity. The comparative analysis also highlighted the influence of Tsinghua University through its highly cited patents. Companies such as General Motors and Intel show a balance between technological diversity and influence. Overall, the analysis highlights both patent volume and technological diversity in neuromorphic chip innovation, with key players contributing through either technological breadth or influential patents. 

The data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Neuromorphic Chips.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

 

Tech Titans 2024: Top 25 Advanced Robotics Innovators

Patent Analytics , , ,

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of advanced robotics, innovation drives the industry forward, shaping the future of automation, artificial intelligence, and human-robot collaboration. This year’s “Tech Titans” post highlights the top 25 companies leading the charge in advanced robotics patents and pending applications. These companies are not only shaping the landscape today but also laying the groundwork for the technological advancements of tomorrow.

Trends and Competitive Landscape

The data in this year’s report highlights several key trends in the advanced robotics industry:

  1. Blocking Patent Index and Forward Citations: Companies with a high Blocking Patent Index and a significant number of forward citations, such as Johnson & Johnson and Intuitive Surgical, indicate strong and influential patent portfolios. These companies are effectively shaping the direction of technological advancements in robotics.
  2. Global Distribution of Patents: The top innovators are not limited to a single region; companies from the United States, China, and Japan dominate the list, reflecting the global nature of robotics innovation.
  3. Emerging Players: Companies like Cmr Surgical Limited and Globus Medical are rapidly expanding their patent portfolios, signaling their growing influence in the robotics sector.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the competition in advanced robotics is expected to intensify as companies continue to innovate and protect their technological advancements. The ongoing growth in AI and machine learning integration will likely drive further developments in autonomous and collaborative robotics.

Patent Analytics On-Demand

Explore our Patent Analytics Services to gain insights into the latest trends, competitor activities, and strategic opportunities in your technology area. Our tools and expertise help you stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving world of advanced robotics.

Patent Analytics On-Demand

Conclusion

The “Tech Titans 2024” post showcases the leading innovators in advanced robotics, highlighting their significant contributions to the field. As these companies continue to shape the future of robotics, we look forward to exploring more advancements in the coming years. Stay tuned for our next post in this series, where we dive into another groundbreaking technology area.

Seeing Double: How Digital Twins Are Driving a New Era of Innovation

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , , , , ,

Seeing Double: How Digital Twins Are Driving a New Era of Innovation
By Ayana Marshall, PhD

As technology continues to advance, digital twins have emerged as a concept that connects the physical and digital realms in innovative ways. These advanced virtual counterparts of physical assets, systems, or processes are transforming how industries approach simulation, optimization, and innovation. Beyond their practical applications, digital twins are becoming central to the growing focus on intellectual property (IP) rights, as companies increasingly file patents to protect their developments. The intersection of digital twins and IP will be explored, examining patent filings and pending applications to shed light on how this technology is influencing the landscape of innovation. 

To understand the growing impact of digital twins, it’s important to examine the key players driving innovation in this field. The figure above highlights companies with the highest number of patents and pending applications related to digital twin technologies, including industry leaders such as IBM, Philips, and Dassault. 

  • IBM (International Business Machines Corp.) holds the highest number of patents and pending applications related to digital twin technologies, as indicated by the chart. 
  • Koninklijke Philips N.V. is another leading company in this area. 
  • Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault S.A. ranks among the top 3. 
  • Emerson Electric Co. has a notable number of patents and pending applications in this field, as shown in the chart. 
  • Amazon.com, Inc. and Honeywell International Inc. are also prominent in the digital twin landscape, with significant patent and application activity. 
  • Other companies rounding out the top 10 in patents and pending application counts include SAP SE, Autodesk, Inc., Rockwell Automation, and Hexagon AB. 
  • The chart further highlights companies such as Schneider Electric SA, ANSYS, Inc., Posco, Siemens AG, and GE Aerospace with notable patent and application counts. 
  • Institutions like Beihang University and Strong Force Intellectual Capital, LLC also appear in the chart, indicating their involvement in digital twin technologies. 

Building on the insights into the leading companies driving innovation in digital twin technologies, it’s essential to also consider the broader trends in this field. The chart above highlights a significant 85.1% growth in publications over the past three years, underscoring the accelerating interest and activity in digital twin technologies. 

  • The publication trend was relatively flat from 2014 to 2020. 
  • There has been an 85.1% growth in publications related to digital twin technologies over the past three years. 
  • The most significant spike in publication activity occurred from 2021 onwards, as illustrated by the steep upward curve. 

The surge in publication activity in recent years, marked by an 85.1% growth, signals the expanding interest and investment in digital twin technologies. This trend is further supported by the competitive landscape shown in the accompanying chart, where leading companies such as IBM, Philips, and Dassault are not only securing patents but also actively filing pending applications in this field. 

The data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Digital Twins.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

Quantum Leap: Quantum Cryptography Patent & Pending Application Holders

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , ,

By Ayana Marshall, Ph.D, Patent Data Analyst

Quantum cryptography is advancing rapidly due to the imminent threat posed by quantum computing to traditional cryptographic methods. Significant progress in both quantum computing capabilities and the development of quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms is driving this advancement1-6. The potential for quantum computers to break current encryption systems such as Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is a major driving force behind the urgency to develop quantum-resistant cryptography1-6. Various technology companies and academic institutions are actively innovating and protecting their advancements through patent filings. This chart showcases the organizations that are shaping the future of secure communication in an era where quantum computers present both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges.

  • Quantumctek Co., Ltd.: Leading with several patents and pending applications.
  • Toshiba Corporation, South China Normal University, and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd: Each displays similar patent activity to each other.
  • Group Electronics Co Ltd and NEC Corporation: Round out the top 6 both with similar quantities of patents and pending applications.
  • University of Science and Technology of China and IBM: Represents the involvement of academic institutions and corporate entities in the field.
  • Huawei and Baidu: Displays corporate giants that are actively participating.

QuantumCTek In the News

Transitioning from a broader look at the top companies in quantum cryptography, the focus now shifts to QuantumCTek Co., Ltd., the leader in patents and pending applications. The following are some of their recent innovations and received investments:

  • They have developed a ruthenium oxide thermometer that is used for tracking the temperature of quantum chips which allows for quantum computer stability and accuracy​7​.
  • They received a 504-qubit superconducting quantum computing chip named “Xiaohong,” aimed at advancing quantum computing measurement and control systems​8​.
  • China Telecom Quantum Information Technology Group Co., Ltd. has invested approximately 1.9 billion yuan to acquire a 23% stake in QuantumCTek​9​.

Quantum Cryptography Patents on the Rise: A Publication Trend Analysis

  • Upward Trend: The publication trend in quantum cryptography publications has shown a significant upward trajectory, as illustrated in the above chart.
  • Growth in Publications: The three-year growth indicates a 62% increase in quantum cryptography publications. This trend underscores the increasing focus on quantum cryptography, driven by advancements in quantum computing and the pressing need for secure communication methods.
  • Recent Growth: Also displayed is the transition from minimal publication in quantum cryptography from 2014 to 2018 to an incline 2019 and onward.

 

Driving Innovation and Security: The Rise of Quantum Cryptography Publications

The surge in quantum cryptography publications highlights the critical importance of this technology, which is developing methods aimed towards ensuring secure communications and protecting against future quantum threats. It is crucial for protecting critical infrastructures such as financial systems, healthcare, and national security networks, which rely on robust encryption to defend against sophisticated cyber threats. As the data indicates, companies like QuantumCTek are at the forefront of this field, actively securing their innovations through patenting. Overall, the growing number of patents and pending applications underscores the importance and potential commercial viability of quantum cryptography, reflecting a global push to harness and protect intellectual property in this pivotal technology sector.

This data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Artificial Intelligence.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

References:

  1. Post-Quantum Cryptography
  2. Quantum Cryptography
  3. World Economic Forum
  4. VIPRE
  5. ar5iv​​
  6. Newsroom
  7. com
  8. The Quantum Insider
  9. MarketScreener

 

 

Unveiling the Brains Behind AI Patenting: Leading Inventors Transforming Technology

Patent Analytics , , , ,

By Ayana Marshall, Patent Data Analyst

Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way thanks to its top inventors.  Their groundbreaking work has not only pushed AI technology forward but also made it a vital part of different industries.  These innovators have transformed AI from ideas into impactful tools.  This article spotlights these leading inventors, celebrating the individuals whose creativity and foresight have made AI innovations indispensable. 

Leading Inventors in AI: A Perspective Based on Global Patents and Pending Applications 

The table above presents a summary of the contributions of leading AI inventors, ranking them by their patent portfolio size.  This table details a list of inventors with their associated patent portfolios, highlighting their active global patents and pending applications.  The following are the highlights: 

  • Global Patent Leader: Jianzong Wang from Ping An Insurance (Group) tops the list with 1,077 total patents and applications. 
  • Granted Patents: Wang currently holds 364 granted patents. 
  • Pending Applications: A considerable number of 713 applications are pending, indicating active innovation. 
  • Patent Families: Wang’s patents are part of a large family of 1,013, suggesting broad and varied technological advancements. 
  • Company Spotlight: Stradvision, Inc. features prominently, with several inventors on the list having a high volume of pending patents, highlighting the company’s intensive R&D focus. 

The gradient coloring starting from green across the table visually emphasizes the inventors with the most extensive patent activities, with darker greens denoting inventors with larger volumes.  This table, therefore, not only highlights individual achievement but also subtly points out the competitive landscape of AI development among leading tech companies. 

Leading Inventors in AI: A Perspective Based on US Patents and Pending Applications 

This image details a list of inventors with their associated patent portfolios, highlighting their active US patents and pending applications.  

  • U.S. Patent Front-Runner: Sarbajit K. Rakshit from IBM leads with 356 patents and pending applications in the U.S. 
  • Notable Inventors: Kenneth Neumann of Kpn Innovations, LLC and inventors from Capital One Financial Corporation are also highlighted for their substantial contributions. 
  • Close Contender: Austin Walters of Capital One Financial Corporation has a portfolio close behind with 303 patents and pending applications. 
  • Patents vs. Pending Applications: The table distinguishes between granted patents and pending applications, highlighting active areas of innovation with Neumann leading in pending applications. 
  • Cross-Industry Innovation: Inventors from various companies like Cisco Systems, Adobe, and Samsung demonstrate AI’s wide-ranging impact across different sectors. 

Beyond the Numbers 

In summary, the data from both images offers a look at the AI industry’s inventors and their contributions on a global scale, as well as within the United States.  The inventors listed highlight a robust commitment to innovation, with extensive patent portfolios that include both granted patents and those awaiting approval.  

Notably, the inventors affiliated with companies like Stradvision, Inc., Capital One Financial Corporation, and Ping An Insurance Group demonstrate strides in AI technology globally, as evidenced by their patent counts.  The number of pending applications further suggests that the field is poised for growth with potential new AI solutions on the horizon.  These inventors, therefore, represent the driving force behind the AI sector’s evolution, embodying the industry’s commitment to advancing technology and securing its future development through patent protection. 

This data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Artificial Intelligence.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

 

Who’s Conquering the AI Globe?  The Patent Showdown Between Reach & Influence

Patent Analytics , , , ,

By Ayana Marshall, Patent Data Analyst

The scope of Artificial Intelligence (AI) patents is a key indicator of innovation and global reach in the field.  The chart in the image arranges the companies by two metrics: the influence of their patents, indicated by average forward citations, and the international expanse of their patent holdings, revealing a strategic dimension to how AI advancements are being staked worldwide. 

Tech Titans in the Spotlight: Microsoft and Alphabet Inc. Lead the Charge 

The bubble chart was used here to assess the breadth of jurisdiction and citation impact of AI patents. Geographic coverage is plotted on the x-axis and average forward citations are plotted on the y-axis.  The following are the highlights from the chart: 

  • Microsoft & Alphabet Inc. Lead: Both companies secure top positions in AI patent rankings, highlighting extensive patent counts and wide international presence. 
  • Citation Impact: Alphabet Inc. has the highest average forward citations with Microsoft closely following. 
  • Other Notable Companies: Toyota Motor Corporation, Samsung Electronics, Huawei, and Robert Bosch. also feature with significant geographic coverage and citation impacts. 
  • Citation Prominence: Baidu, Tencent, and Ping An Insurance are notable because of their citation counts. 

Unveiling the Global AI Innovation Map: A Closer Look at Tech Titans 

The positioning of companies across the chart illuminates the reach of their AI endeavors.  This visual guide offers a look into the scale and influence of each technology titan’s AI patent portfolios.  This data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Artificial Intelligence.

For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

AI Titans: Who’s Dominating the Patent Universe

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , , ,

By Ayana Marshall, Patent Data Analyst

In the rapidly advancing field of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a notable area of focus.  This field, where machines are designed to simulate human intelligence, is a center of both innovation and patent competition.  Key players in this arena are major companies that are not only involved in developing AI but also in securing their developments through patents.  These leading companies are actively engaging in AI research and development, and through their patent filings, they are protecting their innovations.  This activity plays a significant role in the ongoing evolution of AI technology and its integration into various industries. 

Global Players: Patent Powerhouses Shaping the Future 

The Top Companies bar chart above illustrates the total patents and total pending applications in AI held by various global corporations.  The following are some highlights: 

  • Leading Patent Holder: Alphabet Inc. holds the highest number of total patents, indicating significant investment in AI. 
  • IBM & Baidu Presence: International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Baidu, Inc. follow closely in patent counts, highlighting their roles as major players in AI development. 
  • Samsung’s Pending Applications: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has a notably higher number of pending applications than granted patents. 
  • Varied Company Involvement: Microsoft Corporation, Tencent Holdings Ltd, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Amazon.com, Inc. are also key contenders with substantial patent portfolios. 
  • Ping An Insurance’s AI Focus: Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. is recognized for its considerable AI patent portfolio. 
  • Manufacturing Companies + AI: Robert Bosch GmbH and Siemens AG, known for manufacturing, have significant AI patent activities, underlining AI’s cross-sector impact. 
  • Technology & Automotive Dominance: The chart emphasizes the strong involvement of technology and automotive companies in AI patent holdings. 

Tracing the Trajectory of AI Patent Publications 

Expanding on the context of patent holdings, the line graph above spans from 2014 to 2023.  The following are the highlights: 

  • Upward Trend:  The Publication Trend shows a fluctuating but overall increasing trend in AI patent publications from 2014 to 2023. 
  • Growth in Publications:  There’s a 7.6% annual increase in AI patent publications in the three years up to 2023. 
  • 2019 as a Milestone Year:  The year 2019 is highlighted as a significant year, marking the start of a noticeable rise in the number of AI patent publications. 

This overview introduces the major industry players and the publication trajectory in AI innovation, offering insights for understanding AI development and patenting.  This data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Artificial Intelligence. 

For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE.

102 Blocking Patents as an Indication of High-Quality AI Patent Portfolios

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , ,

By Ayana Marshall, Patent Data Analyst

The hottest area for patenting globally is in Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation, and one indicator of the quality of patent portfolios in the AI space is the number of 102 blocking patents.  102 blocking patents are patents cited by an examiner as a 102 reference in an office action at the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office).  These Gate Keepers are building high quality patent portfolios that protect their innovation and keep other competitors from patenting similar inventions in AI. 

The table above shows a list of major technology companies, referred to here as “Gate Keepers,” that have obtained the most blocking patents related to Artificial Intelligence (AI).  The following are the highlights from this table: 

  • Alphabet Inc. holds the highest number of blocking patents, totaling 1,145. 
  • Microsoft Corporation follows with 1,068 blocking patents. 
  • Amazon.com, Inc. has 671 blocking patents. 
  • The list includes a mix of technology, automotive, and industrial companies. 
  • Notable entries include Samsung Electronics with 663 patents and IBM with 670 patents. 
  • Companies such as Meta Platforms, Inc. and Ford Motor Company also feature on the list with 200 and 190 patents, respectively. 

Now that we know which companies have the most blocking patents, we can now look at who is being hindered the most by 102 blocking patents.  The table below shows the list of major technology companies, referred to here as the “Hindered,” that have had the most AI patents cited against them in a 102 rejection. 

The following are the highlights from this list of companies: 

  • IBM at the Forefront: International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) leads with 994 patents impacted by 102 blockages. 
  • Samsung & Microsoft Affected: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Microsoft Corporation also faced significant numbers of blocked patents, with 677 and 618, respectively. 
  • Notable Tech Giants: Alphabet Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation are among other technology giants, with 508 and 462 blocked AI patents, hinting at the competitive landscape they navigate. 
  • Intellectual Property Challenges: Companies like Intel Corporation and Baidu, Inc. also experienced several patent blockages. 
  • Broad Industry Impact: The list includes a diverse range of companies from different industries, showing that patent blockages in AI are a common challenge across the technology sector. 

This data highlights that the AI technology landscape includes companies that, while pushing the boundaries of AI, encounter significant hurdles in the form of 102 blocked patents.  The challenges faced by these companies underscore the importance of strategic patent management and the potential for collaboration or negotiation in advancing the field of AI.  Despite these obstacles, the continued efforts and resilience of these companies fuel the progress and expansion of AI technologies globally. 

This data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on Artificial Intelligence. For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE.

Apple Vision Pro: A Patent Look at the New Entrant in Virtual Reality

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , ,

By Ayana Marshall, Patent Data Analyst

Introduction 

Virtual Reality (VR) has evolved from a futuristic concept to an everyday reality, and with Apple’s launch of the Vision Pro headset, the technology giant is now staking its claim in this innovative field.  This article takes a closer look at the Vision Pro, examining how it fits into an already dynamic market and patenting landscape, and what its arrival signifies for the future of VR. 

Overview of Apple’s Vision Pro 

The Apple Vision Pro is designed for seamless integration across the Apple ecosystem, enhancing the user experience on all Apple devices. 

Computational Power, Latency, and Memory Bandwidth 

Powered by the M2 chip, the Vision Pro balances high-speed processing with energy efficiency, further enhanced by a 10-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine.  With 16GB of unified memory, it supports efficient data processing and multitasking.  The introduction of the R1 chip reduces photon-to-photon latency to 12 milliseconds, enhancing immersion and minimizing motion sickness, while a 256GB/s memory bandwidth ensures responsive VR interactions. 

Display Technology, Audio Technology, and Media Playback 

Its display employs micro-OLED technology with 23 million pixels, delivering visuals supported by a wide color spectrum and variable refresh rates for smooth motion.  An array of advanced sensors and cameras enables environmental mapping and motion tracking, complemented by passthrough technology that blends virtual and physical spaces for enhanced user awareness.  The Vision Pro’s immersive audio experience, enriched by Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, personalized audio ray tracing, a six-mic array with directional beamforming, and ultra-low-latency connections with AirPods Pro (2nd generation).  Additionally, extensive support for audio and video formats ensures high-fidelity content consumption. 

Operating System, Battery Life and Charging 

visionOS, Apple’s platform for spatial computing, is the operating system for the Vision Pro.  This operating system enhances the VR experience by leveraging the device’s advanced hardware for seamless navigation and immersive applications, integrating tightly with the Apple ecosystem.  It supports eye and hand controls and is compatible with physical keyboards, trackpads, and game controllers.  The Vision Pro’s optimized battery life supports extended use, and advanced connectivity options with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 provide reliable streaming and device pairing. 

Input Methods, Ergonomics and Physical Design 

Input versatility includes interactions through hands, eyes, voice, and supported accessories like keyboards, trackpads, and game controllers, broadening usability.  Items can be chosen simply by gazing at them and tapping fingers together, while pinching, dragging, zooming, and rotating objects can be accomplished using specific hand gestures.  The adjustable Interpupillary Distance (IPD) and the device’s lightweight design provide visual comfort and ease of use. 

Security and Accessibility Features 

Security is a priority, with Optic ID offering iris-based biometric authentication, encrypting data securely to protect user privacy.  A key aspect of the Vision Pro is its comprehensive accessibility features, designed to empower individuals with disabilities to fully engage with their device. 

Exploring the VR Market Dynamics 

The Vision Pro enters a market with well-known products like the Sony PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, and Meta’s Quest 3.  These systems have already established their places in the VR market, creating a competitive environment for the introduction of the Apple Vision Pro. 

Patents as Innovation Indicators 

Based on data provided by the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on VR Hardware, the trend in VR hardware patent publications has experienced a consistent increase up to 2022, after which it levels off.  Over the past three years, there has been an annual growth of 5.8% in patent publications.  An increase in patent filings typically reflects a period of innovation, as companies seek to secure legal protection for their new inventions.  The data suggests progress in VR hardware development, pointing to the technology’s ongoing expansion and adoption.  

Analyzing the Growth of VR Hardware Patents: A Snapshot of Industry Leaders and Apple’s Position 

The chart presents data on the patent activities of leading corporations in the VR domain, specifically comparing the number of patents to the number pending applications.  This data provides a snapshot of VR technology patenting from technology giants. The following are highlights from this chart: 

  • Sony Group Corporation leads with the highest patent count. 
  • Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Magic Leap, Samsung, and Nintendo follow as top patent holders. 
  • These companies have many pending applications, showing active VR development. 
  • Apple Inc. ranks in the top 15, with fewer patents than the leaders. 

How Does Apple’s Growth in VR Patent Publications Compare to Industry Leaders? 

The following are the highlights from this chart about Apple’s publication trends: 

  • Apple’s publication growth in 3 years: 19.1%, more than triple the entire VR sector’s growth. 
  • Significant growth observed from 2019 to 2021, followed by a stable period. 
  • Growth resumed in the years 2022 to 2023. 

The Competitive Ecosystem 

As Apple’s Vision Pro joins the competitive landscape of virtual reality headsets, it stands amidst established players like Meta’s Quest series and Sony’s PlayStation VR.  Apple’s entry introduces its distinct blend of technologies and design philosophies, aiming to carve out its niche in a market that values innovation and user-centric experiences.  This environment, where companies not only compete on product capabilities but also on the intellectual property front, highlights a dynamic interplay of market strategies and technological advancements. 

The chart provides a visual comparison of the influence and scope within the VR hardware patent landscape.  Influence is gauged by the average number of citations a company’s patents receive, indicating their significance to subsequent technological developments.  Scope is measured by the length of a patent’s first claim, which can reflect the breadth of the invention’s protection.  Larger bubbles represent a higher quantity of patents held by each entity.  The following are highlights from this chart: 

  • Microsoft and Alphabet have influential patents with shorter claim lengths. 
  • Goertek and Nintendo’s patents feature longer first claims. 
  • Apple’s patents have lower influence based on forward citations and have fewer words in the first claim. 

Analyzing the Impact and Breadth of VR Patent Portfolios 

Building on the understanding of patent activity as an indicator of technological development, further analysis can be conducted by examining the nuances of patent influence against the diversity of technology within the VR sector.  Review of such metrics provides insight into how companies balance the breadth of their technological advancements with the impact of their intellectual contributions.  This approach to patent analysis offers a unique perspective on how a company like Apple, with its moderate citation influence and longer first claims, positions itself among peers in terms of technological diversity and patent influence. 

This chart offers a visual representation of the interplay between the number of forward citations—a marker of influence—and the technological diversity, as indicated by unique Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) codes, for patents in the VR hardware domain.  The bubble sizes reflect the volume of patents each company holds.  The following are highlights from this chart: 

  • Microsoft and Alphabet have a high average of forward citations and multiple unique CPC codes. 
  • Sony and Meta Platforms demonstrate significant technological diversity. 
  • Apple holds moderate influence and technological diversity in this context. 

The Future is Now 

Apple’s Vision Pro is not the only VR headset to be introduced to the market in 2024.  The VR hardware landscape is set for potential other new releases from companies that include Valve Corporation and ByteDance.  Here is a summary of the most anticipated VR headsets: 

  1. Project Moohan: Samsung and Google are partnering to develop an advanced XR headset that leverages Samsung’s hardware capabilities and Google’s Android XR software.  This joint endeavor is positioned as a competitor to Apple’s Vision Pro, with an anticipated release in the summer of 2024. 
  2. PICO 4: Parent company Bytedance has apparently not yet launched PICO 4 in the US. 
  3. Valve VR Headset: Valve is currently working on the next iteration of its Valve Index VR headset, drawing upon its established VR expertise and extensive gaming catalogue. 
  4. Valve “Deckard”: This appears to be a new venture by Valve, which may be the successor to the Index VR system. 

While not dominating the VR landscape, the companies shown in the above image, including Valve Corporation and ByteDance Ltd., own multiple VR patents and have several applications pending.  Their portfolios, though not as extensive as some competitors, reflect active participation in the VR sector. 

Applications of VR Technology Beyond Entertainment 

It should be noted that VR technology extends well beyond gaming into various sectors including the following:  

  • VR aids healthcare by enabling simulation of medical procedures and virtual patient rehabilitation. 
  • Education uses VR for immersive learning, allowing students to virtually visit historical locations or learn complex science. 
  • Real estate employs VR for remote property tours. 
  • Design and engineering benefit from VR’s ability to create 3D models, aiding visualization, and project iteration. 
  • The entertainment industry utilizes VR for immersive films and interactive storytelling experiences. 

Conclusion 

The launch of the Vision Pro signals Apple’s commitment to the VR segment.  With Apple holding a growing position in terms of patent activity and having moderate influence and technological variety within the VR domain, Vision Pro’s future contributions to this sector are anticipated with interest.

This data is sourced from the Harrity Analytics Patent Pulse™ Report on VR Hardware.  For more information about the Patent Pulse™ Report visit our website HERE, download a complimentary Patent Pulse Report HERE, or contact Harrity Analytics HERE. 

Sources: 

https://harrityllp.com/patent-pulse-report/ 

https://www.dexerto.com/tech/upcoming-vr-headsets-2156692/ 

https://deovr.com/blog/87-upcoming-vr-headsets 

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/oculus-quest-3-release-date-rumors-specs-news#:~:text=The%20Meta%20Quest%203%20is,to%20say%20about%20that%20soon) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtp6b76pMak 

https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/ 

https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/guided-tour/  

https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/specs/  

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/01/apple-unveils-m2-pro-and-m2-max-next-generation-chips-for-next-level-workflows/  

https://forums.appleinsider.com/discussion/233273/hands-on-with-apple-vision-pro-in-the-wild  

https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-apples-r1-chip-how-does-it-compare-m1-and-m2/  

https://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/tech-news-samsung-and-googles-xr-headset-expected-launch-2024  

https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/13/23999883/the-pico-5-headset-might-be-canceled-but-bytedance-isnt-done-with-vr  

Unveiling the Power of Bubble Charts in Competitive Intelligence: A Quantum Computing Perspective

Patent Analytics , , , ,

By Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics

In the realm of competitive intelligence, especially within the patent field, traditional metrics such as patent counts have long been the standard for assessing a company’s patent portfolio strength.  However, this quantitative approach often overlooks the qualitative aspects of patents, which can provide deeper insights into a company’s technological prowess and strategic positioning.  Our recent Quantum Computing – Patent Pulse Report introduces an innovative approach to competitive benchmarking that utilizes bubble charts, offering a more nuanced view of the landscape.  To download the complimentary Quantum Computing Patent Pulse Report, CLICK HERE.

Beyond Counting Patents: The Need for Deeper Insights

While the number of patents a company holds is an important indicator of its activity in a particular technology area, it doesn’t tell the whole story.  Two crucial qualitative metrics often overlooked are the influence of a patent, measured by the number of forward citations it receives, and the scope of its claims, typically gauged by the word count of the first claim.  These metrics provide insights into the patent’s potential impact on future technologies and its breadth of coverage, respectively.

The Bubble Chart: A Visual Representation of Patent Quality and Quantity

The bubble chart featured in our Quantum Computing report illustrates how these qualitative metrics can be visualized alongside quantitative ones.  By plotting companies across two axes—average number of forward citations (influence) and average first claim word count (scope)—and using the bubble size to indicate the number of patents held, the chart provides a comprehensive view of each company’s patent portfolio in terms of both quality and quantity.

This visualization technique allows stakeholders to quickly identify leaders in the technology area, not just by the volume of their patents but by their potential impact and breadth.

Insights from the Quantum Computing Patent Landscape

The Quantum Computing – Patent Pulse Report reveals intriguing trends and strategic positions among key players in the quantum computing field.  For example, D-wave Systems Inc. stands out with patents that have the highest average first claim word count and the highest average forward citations.  To download the complimentary Quantum Computing Patent Pulse Report, CLICK HERE.

The Strategic Value of Bubble Charts in Competitive Benchmarking

The use of bubble charts for competitive benchmarking analyses offers several advantages:

  • Comprehensive Insights: It provides a holistic view of a company’s patent portfolio, combining quantity with qualitative metrics.
  • Strategic Decision-Making: Companies can identify not only their position but also their competitors’ strategic focuses, guiding R&D investments and patenting strategies.
  • Identifying Innovation Leaders: Stakeholders can pinpoint which companies are setting the pace in technological advancements, potentially guiding partnership or acquisition decisions.

Conclusion

As the patent landscape becomes increasingly complex, tools like bubble charts that offer multi-dimensional analyses become invaluable.  Our Quantum Computing – Patent Pulse Report is a testament to the power of such analytical tools in revealing the nuances of competitive positioning and technological leadership.  By moving beyond simple patent counts to a richer, more informative analysis, we can gain true insights into the dynamics of innovation across industries.

Maximizing Efficiency: A Case Study on Using the Patent 300® Report for Assessing Law Firm Performance

Case Study, Patent 300, Patent Analytics , , , ,

By Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics

In the ever-evolving realm of patent law, in-house attorneys face the critical task of assessing and optimizing the performance of their outside counsel. This blog post delves into a practical case study illustrating how an in-house attorney can leverage the insights from the Patent 300® Company Report to evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of their law firms in patent prosecution.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Analyzing Key Metrics: The report provides comprehensive data, including total patents issued, average cost, office action frequency, and more. By comparing these metrics across different firms, an attorney can identify performance trends and cost-efficiency.
  2. Benchmarking Success Rates: Through examining specific metrics like interview success and extension of time requests, attorneys can benchmark their firms against industry standards, pinpointing areas for improvement.
  3. Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation: The average cost per patent metric is pivotal for assessing the financial aspect of the firm’s performance, helping in making budget-conscious decisions.
  4. Strategic Decision Making: With a detailed breakdown of each firm’s performance, an attorney can make informed decisions about continuing, modifying, or terminating relationships with specific outside counsel.
  5. Future Planning: The technology breakdowns and patent prosecution stats offer insights for future patent strategies, ensuring alignment with the company’s overall IP goals.

This case study exemplifies how an in-house attorney can transform raw data into actionable insights, leading to a more efficient and strategic approach in managing outside counsel for patent prosecution.

By embracing the detailed analysis offered by the Patent 300® Company Report, attorneys can not only assess but also significantly improve their firms’ performance, aligning it with the company’s broader intellectual property objectives.

Download a Complimentary Report on Your Company HERE

Review our Sample Report on Nvidia:

Nvidia - 2024 Patent 300® Company Report

Looking for more detailed analytics on your company or your competitors?

CONTACT US HERE

High Level Patent Portfolio Assessment Using Harrity’s Patent 300® Company Report

Patent 300, Patent Analytics , , , ,

By Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics

Could a Glance at the Big Picture Reveal Secrets to Refining Your IP Strategy?

In the intricate world of intellectual property, IP counsel often find themselves deeply immersed in the minutiae of patents and portfolios. The challenge is real: staying afloat in a sea of detailed legal and technical complexities. But, what if the key to a breakthrough in patent strategy lies in a broader perspective? Could stepping back to observe high-level trends be the game-changer for assessing and enhancing your patent practice?

A Key to Unlock Patent Insights

Our Patent 300® Company Report is more than just a document; it’s a window to a world of strategic insights. With this report, IP counsel can transcend beyond the everyday details and gaze at the bigger picture. This high-level view offers a unique opportunity to understand the broader trends in patenting, helping you refine and realign your IP strategy effectively.

Exclusive Sample: NVIDIA Report

To give you a taste of what our report offers, we have attached a sample report for NVIDIA. This sample includes high-level patenting trends, detailed patent prosecution stats, insights into outside counsel costs, and a breakdown of technological focuses. It’s a glimpse into the kind of comprehensive analysis and strategic guidance that our full report offers.

Nvidia - 2024 Patent 300® Company Report

At Harrity, we believe in the power of perspective. It’s why we are excited to offer a unique tool that unlocks this very insight – the comprehensive portfolio report for companies on the distinguished Patent 300® List.

DOWNLOAD A COMPLIMENTARY COMPANY REPORT HERE

Your Guide to the Patent 300 Landscape

Are you curious to see who made it to this year’s Patent 300 List? We’ve got you covered. Visit HERE to discover the companies leading the charge in innovation and intellectual property.

Dive Deep into Patent Trends

The Patent 300® Company Report is not just about lists and numbers. It’s a deep dive into the world of patent trends, offering insights into patent prosecution statistics, technology breakdowns, and even metrics on outside counsel costs. This level of detail is invaluable in crafting a strategy that is not only responsive but also proactive in the face of evolving IP landscapes.

Download and Transform Your Approach

Ready to realign your IP strategy? Download your copy of the report HERE. Dive into the details, discover the trends, and start transforming your approach today. The insights you gain might just be the key to unlocking a more refined and effective IP strategy.

Patent Data Reveals Unique Continuation Practice Amongst Patent 300® Companies

Articles, Patent 300, Patent Analytics , , , ,

By Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics

Continuation practice in US patent law refers to a procedure where an applicant files a subsequent application based on the disclosure of a prior non-provisional application, while the prior application is still pending.  This strategy can be used for various reasons, such as refining claims, pursuing different scopes of protection, or keeping a patent family alive as the business strategy or technology develops.  The Patent 300® data, focusing on the highest and lowest percentages of patents issued in 2023 that were continuations, provides fascinating insights into the innovation and patenting strategies of top companies.

Strategic Use of Continuation Practice Found in Numerous Industries

The chart above indicates that companies like Sonos, Edwards Life Sciences, and Ebay lead with the highest continuation percentages.  For example, the data shows that 88% of Sonos’ patents issuing in 2023 were continuation applications.  This approach suggests a targeted approach to innovation, where companies are keen on fortifying their market position by building robust patent portfolios around their core products and services.  Continuation practice allows these companies to create a thicket of patents, making it harder for competitors to navigate without infringing.  It also provides them the flexibility to adapt to technological advancements and market changes by updating or expanding their patent claims.

Moreover, continuation practice might be indicative of a strategic layering of patent protection that enables companies to keep certain innovations under initial protection while testing the market or developing further improvements.  For companies like Palantir and Dolby, whose products involve complex software or hardware, the ability to file continuations means they may have the ability to continually update their patent claims to cover the latest iterations of their technology.

Continuation applications can also serve as a legal strategy to keep competitors uncertain about the final form of the patent claims, which could deter potential infringement or at least make it more difficult for competitors to design around an applicant’s patent portfolio.

Why are some companies not filing many continuation applications at all?

The Patent 300® data also reveals a set of companies that utilize continuation practices minimally in their patenting efforts.  Notably, this list includes a significant number of automotive manufacturers, highlighted above, such as Subaru, Mazda, and Honda, all showing low continuation percentages.  This pattern could suggest a distinct approach to portfolio management within the automotive industry, where innovation is rapid and product development cycles are aligned with manufacturing and release schedules.

Another reason for the minimal use of continuation practice could be budgetary constraints.  Continuation applications incur additional costs, not just in filing fees but also in legal and administrative expenses over time.  For some companies, the cost of maintaining a high number of continuations may not justify the potential benefits.  Some companies may opt to instead focus on obtaining patents for newly developed technologies.

Additionally, the strategy behind claims could influence the use of continuation practice.  Companies may choose to file comprehensive initial patent applications with broad claims to cover their inventions fully from the outset.  This approach could reduce the need for subsequent continuation applications to refine or broaden the scope of the original claims.  Some companies may prioritize filing detailed applications that anticipate future product developments, thereby lessening the need for continuations.

Moreover, the breadth of patenting may reflect an applicant’s innovation strategy.  Companies with a wider range of products and services may prefer to obtain a broader spread of original patents rather than deepening the protection around a narrower technology area through continuations.  This approach can create a more extensive barrier to entry for competitors across a wider technology landscape.  Automotive companies, with their frequent iterations of vehicle models and technologies, might find more value in creating a broad patent portfolio that covers a range of innovations rather than focusing on continuing applications for specific technologies.

In sum, the Patent 300® data offers a revealing glimpse into the nuanced strategies behind continuation practices in patent law.  While certain companies leverage this mechanism to build a dense web of protection around key products, adapting to market and technological shifts, others in sectors like automotive opt for a broader innovation footprint, potentially driven by cost considerations, a preference for comprehensive initial filings, or the strategic spread of their patent efforts across a wider range of technologies.  These divergent approaches underscore the complexity of IP management, where each applicant crafts a strategy aligned with its business goals, market position, and the dynamic landscape of technological advancement.  The data not only reflects the tactical choices of individual companies but also illustrates broader industry trends in patenting, revealing the careful balance between depth and breadth in securing intellectual property rights.

Inside the European Patent Revolution: An Analysis of Emerging Unitary Patent Data

Articles, General, Patent Analytics , , ,

Inside the European Patent Revolution: An Analysis of Emerging Unitary Patent Data

By Ayana Marshall, Patent Data Analyst

Brief Introduction to the Unitary Patent System

Launched on June 1, 2023, the Unitary Patent System, managed by the European Patent Office (EPO), simplifies patent protection across participating European Union (EU) member states.  Replacing the need for separate validations in each state, it allows a single application and fee for protection in all participating countries.  Based on the European Patent Convention (EPC), the system enables patent holders to seek uniform protection post-grant in 17 initial EU member states.  The Unitary Patent is described as a “European patent with unitary effect”.  The system includes the Unified Patent Court (UPC), comprising judges from participating states, adjudicating on Unitary and European patent infringements and validity.  This system signifies a streamlined approach for patent protection in the EU.1-5

Trends in Unitary Patent Registrations

The European Patent Office (EPO) has compiled and shared data from the launch of the Unitary Patent System up to January 15, 2024.  This includes various statistics and insights into how the system has been utilized.  The following discussion will delve into the key elements and findings from this data set.

Requests for Unitary Effect

The data above reveals that the Unitary Patent System received 18,273 requests for unitary effect, with 17,733 successfully registered as patents.  Additionally, the uptake rate for the system in 2024 stands at 17.3%.  This statistic represents the proportion of total requests that resulted in registered patents within the specified timeframe.6

The chart above tracks unitary patent request trends from December 2022 to December 2023.  Monthly request volumes, shown via bars, are aligned with the left vertical axis.  The right axis and line graph represent the cumulative total of requests.

From December 2022 to June 2023, the chart shows a rise in monthly requests for unitary patents, starting below 1,000 and reaching around 2,000 by May with a peak of almost 3,000 in June 2023.  July 2023 through September 2023 saw a decline in requests for unitary effect followed by a slight increase of just over 2,000 in October 2023.  There was a subsequent decline to approximately 4,000 by December 2023.  This illustrates the evolving interest and engagement with the Unitary Patent system over the year.  The cumulative line shows a consistent and steady upward trajectory throughout the year, reflecting the addition of each month’s new requests to the total count.  Starting at almost zero in December 2022, the cumulative count surpasses 20,000 by December 2023.  This upward trend suggests growing interest in and engagement with the Unitary Patent system over the year.

Top 25 Companies (Proprietors)

The chart above displays the number of unitary patent requests filed by the top 25 companies.  The bars are color-coded to represent different regions: EPO states, the US, Japan, China, Korea, and Others.  Johnson & Johnson holds the top position in terms of requests with the highest tally, followed by Siemens AG trailing by a narrow margin.  Both corporations submitted requests in the mid-two-hundreds.  Similarly, Qualcomm, Inc.  and Samsung Group exhibit parallel levels of requests, showcasing comparable engagement in the unitary patent application process.  The chart demonstrates a diversity of companies across different regions, with several companies from EPO states and the US occupying the top spots, while companies from Japan, China, and Korea also feature prominently, although with fewer requests.

Origin of Proprietors

The map above illustrates the geographic distribution of patent proprietors, with Europe and North America exhibiting higher volumes of requests.  Europe is particularly prominent, with requests ranging between 3,000 to 4,000, while the United States shows a lower range of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 requests.

WIPO’s Technology Fields (IPC)

Medical technology and electrical machinery are the most represented technology fields, suggesting robust activity and interest in these areas.  The technology fields are classified by the International Patent Classification (IPC) system, detailing the distribution of unitary patent requests across various sectors.  The size of each block in the image corresponds to the number of requests in that technology field, with larger blocks indicating more requests.  The technology fields include Medical technology, Computer technology, Pharmaceuticals, Civil engineering, Transport, Measurement, ‘Machine tools, Handling, and Other special machines.

Each technology field in the image above is quantified with a count and percentage, indicating its share of unitary patent requests.  Medical technology leads with 2,135 requests, accounting for 11.7% of the total.  Civil engineering, Transport, and Other special machines,  also feature significantly with 1080 (5.9%), 1,000 (5.5%), and 971 (5.3%) requests respectively.  Other fields like Computer Technology and Handling show smaller proportions, with 792 (4.3%) and 756 (4.1%) requests.  The distribution of requests across these fields suggests a varied interest in unitary patent protection across different technology sectors.

Status of Registration

The status of registration represents the proportions of unitary patent applications in each stage of the registration process.  The chart above quantifies and categorizes unitary patents according to their registration status of registered, pending, and rejection.  Dominating the chart is the registered category with 17,733 cases, accounting for 97.0% of the total, while pending applications comprise 2.8% with 509 cases followed by the 23 (0.1%) cases that were withdrawn.  The rejected category, representing the smallest segment, includes only 8 cases, making up a 0.04% of the total.  This chart highlights the number of successful registrations in the unitary patent system.

Translation and Procedural Languages

Data on translation and procedural languages used reveals that English is commonly used for both, with German and French also being used.  English is used in 73.3% of procedural languages, a significant lead over German and French.  Spanish is the mostly commonly used translation language outpacing English by a narrow margin.

In summary, the consolidated data provides insight into the unitary patent system as it currently stands.  It appears to indicate active participation across various technological sectors, a high rate of patent registrations, and a wide geographic distribution of proprietors.  The diverse origins of the applicants appear to highlight the system’s potential global appeal, and the significant majority of finalized registrations appear to suggest its efficiency.  These details offer an understanding of how the system is being used, positioning it as a potentially key mechanism for safeguarding modern innovations.  The detailed breakdown of request origins, technology fields, and registration statuses offers stakeholders an understanding of the system’s current scope and functionality.

For those interested in accessing customized analytics, contact Harrity Analytics today!

—

Stay tuned for more insights and analyses from Harrity Analytics, as we continue to explore the ever-evolving world of patents and innovation.

  1. https://www.epo.org/en/applying/european/unitary/unitary-patent
  2. https://www.epo.org/en/legal/guide-up/2022/uppg_a_v.html#:~:text=32The%20primary%20aim%20of,obtaining%2C%20maintaining%20and%20managing%20them.
  3. https://www.unified-patent-court.org/en
  4. https://www.epo.org/en/legal/guide-up/2022/uppg_a_iii_1.html
  5. https://www.epo.org/en/applying/european/unitary
  6. https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/statistics/statistics-centre#/unitary-patent
  7. All images were obtained from https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/statistics/statistics-centre#/unitary-patent

 

 

Analyzing Technology Trends from the 2024 Patent 300® List

Patent 300, Patent Analytics , , , ,

Harrity Analytics is proud to announce the release of the 2024 Patent 300® List, an exclusive ranking of the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining US utility patents. This year’s list offers a comprehensive view of the intellectual property landscape and highlights the innovative strides made by leading technology firms.

The Top 15 Innovators of 2023 have showcased their commitment to innovation, collectively accounting for 16% of the 312,563 total utility patents issued. Despite a 3% drop from the previous year, these organizations have continued to push the boundaries of technology and innovation. Take a look at the top technology areas obtaining patents over the last 12 months.

Electronics and Semiconductors: The Front Runners
Samsung leads the pack with a staggering 9,036 patents, doubling the amount secured by the second-place LG. This indicates a strong focus on advancing consumer electronics, mobile communication technologies, and the underlying semiconductor technology. The emphasis on semiconductors is further highlighted by the presence of TSMC and Qualcomm in the top ranks, underlining the critical importance of these components in a multitude of devices.

Cloud, Software, and AI: The Digital Backbone
IBM, ranking third, along with Alphabet and Apple, emphasize the growing significance of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and software innovation. These patents reflect not only their prowess in hardware but also their forward-thinking in the realms of software and services.

Optics, Imaging, and Automotive: Enhancing Vision and Mobility
Canon’s strong showing indicates a continued excellence in optics and imaging, a field that’s increasingly intersecting with automotive technologies, as seen with the presence of companies like Alphabet and Huawei. Such innovations are crucial for advancements in autonomous vehicles and connected mobility solutions.

Aerospace and Defense: Protecting and Exploring New Frontiers
Raytheon Technologies, known for its expertise in aerospace and defense, has maintained its position, signaling ongoing advancements in technologies critical for national security and exploration.

The Global Technology Landscape
The geographical diversity among the top 15 innovators, with companies from the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, underscores the global nature of technological advancement and the interplay of different markets in driving innovation.

The 2024 Patent 300® List by Harrity Analytics not only celebrates the achievements of these innovators but also provides insights into the technology trends shaping our future. We invite industry professionals, analysts, and technology enthusiasts to delve deeper into our findings to understand the direction of innovation and its implications for the global market.

For a detailed exploration of the Patent 300® List and to gain more insights into these trends, visit our interactive Patent 300® Dashboard here.

For those interested in accessing customized analytics, contact Harrity Analytics today!

—

Stay tuned for more insights and analyses from Harrity Analytics, as we continue to explore the ever-evolving world of patents and innovation.

 

Harrity Analytics Presents: 2023 U.S. Patent Office Superlatives

Articles, General, Patent Analytics , , , ,

In the dynamic world of patents, it can be difficult to stay informed about the latest trends and statistics. Harrity Analytics has compiled a fascinating series of USPTO Superlatives for 2023, highlighting key players based off of statistics from the United States Patent Office. Let’s dive into these insightful findings:

1. US City with Most Inventors on Granted US Patents (2023):
-San Diego, CA stands out this year with the most inventors! Inventors from this vibrant city have been listed on 18,429 patents granted in 2023. This is an impressive figure, showcasing the city’s thriving innovation ecosystem.
– Historical Leader (Since 1999): San Jose, CA holds the long-term crown. With its deep-rooted connection to Silicon Valley, inventors from San Jose have been listed on US granted patents a staggering 206,363 times since 1999.

2. World City with Most Inventors on Granted US Patents (2023): – Tokyo takes the global lead! This year, inventors from Tokyo have been listed on 25,317 US granted patents. Since 1999, the total reaches an impressive 403,818.
– Runners-up: Beijing and Seoul follow closely, with 22,585 and 22,205 listings respectively, demonstrating the global spread of innovation.

3. US State with the Most Patents Granted (2023):
– California (CA) leads the race in the United States, with CA inventors being listed on 153,141 granted patents in 2023. This reinforces California’s position as a hub of innovation and technological advancements.
– Following CA are Texas (TX) and Massachusetts (MA), with 31,757 and 25,214 patent listings in 2023 respectively, highlighting the diverse geographic distribution of innovation in the US.

4. Country with Most US Patents Listing Foreign Priority (2023):
– Japan is at the forefront in this category. Out of 329,056 US patents granted so far in 2023, 39,919 claim foreign priority in Japan. This is a testament to the strong innovation links between Japan and the US.
– China and Korea are not far behind, with 25,598 and 25,567 patents claiming priority respectively, showing a significant Asian influence in US patent filings.

These superlatives not only reflect the current landscape of patent filings but also highlight the global interconnectivity in the field of innovation and intellectual property. For those interested in diving deeper into these trends and accessing more analytics, visit Harrity Analytics.

—

Stay tuned for more insights and analyses from Harrity Analytics, as we continue to explore the ever-evolving world of patents and innovation.

 

The Evolving Landscape of Automotive Patents Among German Automakers

Articles, General, Patent Analytics , , , , ,

The patent landscape in the automotive industry has been a topic of interest for stakeholders seeking to navigate the technological advancements and innovations shaping the market. A recent analysis by Harrity Analytics illuminates how the tides have turned in patent acquisition among Germany’s top three automakers—Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche—over the last two decades.

In the early 2000s, Mercedes led the pack in annual patent acquisitions. This period can be characterized as one where Mercedes aggressively sought to protect its intellectual property, a strategy that aligned well with the company’s pursuit of technological leadership in the industry.

However, a noticeable shift occurred around 2010. At this juncture, Mercedes began acquiring fewer patents annually, leveling the playing field for BMW and Porsche. Both companies seized this opportunity and started acquiring patents at a rate that put them in line with Mercedes. The trend suggests a strategic repositioning by BMW and Porsche, possibly driven by a need to catch up with Mercedes’ early lead and to solidify their own footing in rapidly evolving areas like electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and connected services.

The most significant transformation has been observed in the past five to seven years. During this phase, BMW and Porsche have not only caught up but have surpassed Mercedes in annual patent acquisitions. This shift signals a substantial realignment in the industry’s innovation focus, with BMW and Porsche ramping up their efforts to secure technological advancements through intellectual property. Conversely, Mercedes has fallen well behind, prompting questions about its long-term strategy in a landscape increasingly defined by disruptive innovations.

Understanding these shifts is crucial for industry players, investors, and policymakers as it provides insights into the competitive dynamics and innovation strategies of these automakers. The data suggests that while Mercedes may have been an early pioneer, BMW and Porsche have been more agile in adapting to new technological paradigms, as evidenced by their more robust patent portfolios in recent years. It will be interesting to observe how technological advances continue to disrupt the automotive industry and whether these three big players will adjust their patent strategies.

Keep an eye on the Patent 300® Dashboard to see how these trends play out!

Check out our other Patent Analytics services HERE.

Monitoring U.S. Patent Maintenance Fee Data: A Look at Strategy Shifts

Articles, General, Patent Analytics , , , , ,

Monitoring U.S. patent maintenance fee data provides valuable insights into the behavior and strategies of patent owners. At Harrity & Harrity, we have been actively tracking this information since 2015. Our analysis reveals a consistent pattern in maintenance fee payments, with data generally falling within a single standard deviation. However, 2020 stands as an exception, with activity moving outside this range for the first time. This anomaly could be attributed to various factors, such as the economic uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic or shifts in specific technology sectors.

As we look toward 2024, it becomes increasingly important to observe whether this data will experience further deviations. These trends could indicate either a return to previous payment behaviors or the emergence of new strategic approaches by patent owners. Factors like innovation cycles, market demands, and global crises could all contribute to shifts in data.

For patent owners, the implications of this analysis are significant. A consistent reevaluation of patent maintenance strategies is advisable to ensure alignment with long-term organizational goals and current market conditions. Harrity & Harrity’s commitment to patent analytics and consultative services aims to provide clients with the necessary insights to navigate the complex landscape of intellectual property rights effectively. As we approach 2024, we will continue to monitor these trends closely, offering valuable data to help patent owners stay informed and agile in their maintenance fee strategies.

Check out our Patent Analytics services HERE.

Leveraging AI in Gap Analysis Reports

Articles, General, Patent Analytics , , , , ,

Gap Analysis Reports are instrumental for companies to understand the comparative strengths and weaknesses in their patent portfolios. At Harrity & Harrity, we have begun to incorporate generative AI technology like ChatGPT to rapidly identify and summarize these crucial differences between portfolios, based on data provided by the Harrity Analytics Team. The use of AI in this context is not just an experimental venture; it presents a significant opportunity to make the patent analysis process more efficient, quicker, and potentially less costly, particularly in matters of litigation and licensing.

Our Patent 300® Dashboard helps users easily filter between companies and technology areas for easy to view gap analysis, which AI can then quickly delineate. Let’s take a case study that involved comparing the patent portfolios of NVIDIA and Intel Corporation. This analysis highlighted several interesting differences and competitive focuses between the two tech giants. For example, NVIDIA has a noticeable lead in ray-tracing technology with 33 patents, while Intel trails with only 13. When it comes to learning methods, a domain essential for artificial intelligence, Intel surprisingly leads with 31 patents as opposed to Nvidia’s 14. In the areas of texture mapping and processor architectures, both companies appear neck-and-neck, each holding five patents, suggesting a mutual recognition of the importance of these technologies. Furthermore, while NVIDIA has made some headway in cooling technologies with four patents, Intel has none. On the flip side, Intel dominates in the domain of remote windowing with eight patents, dwarfing Nvidia’s single patent. Lastly, in terms of the organizational structure of processors, Intel holds twice the number of patents that Nvidia does, with six against three.

The potential implications of this rapid, AI-driven comparative analysis are significant. Firstly, by providing quick and accurate insights into patent portfolios, the AI can significantly reduce the time and financial resources usually required for litigation and licensing processes. Secondly, these insights can also be instrumental for a company’s strategic planning, particularly for directing R&D investments and identifying areas for competitive positioning. Finally, when aggregated across multiple analyses, this data may also serve as an industry barometer, signaling where innovation is heating up and where it is cooling down.

Overall, the integration of generative AI technology like ChatGPT in the patent analysis process offers promising advantages. By parsing large sets of complex data with both speed and accuracy, we are poised to provide our clients with more cost-effective and timely solutions without compromising the quality of insights crucial for strategic decision-making. The challenge now lies in considering how to further harness this technology.

Could there be other facets of the patent field where the capabilities of generative AI could be further explored for better efficiency and cost-effectiveness? Let us know your thoughts!

Check out our Patent Analytics services HERE.

Leveraging the Patent 300® Dashboard for Competitive Intelligence

Patent Analytics , , , ,

The Patent 300® Dashboard, created by Harrity Patent Analytics, is a powerful patent analytics tool that provides valuable insights into competitive intelligence. It offers a comprehensive view of patent portfolios, prosecution metrics, and technology areas, enabling companies and law firms to make informed decisions and strategic adjustments.

One of the key features of the Patent 300® Dashboard is its ability to provide a high-level view of a company’s patent portfolio. For example, by examining IBM’s portfolio, we can see the overall rank, the percentage of patents obtained, the overall pendency, and the total number of patents. The dashboard also provides a breakdown of the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) subclasses, giving a clear picture of the technology areas where the company is patenting.

The dashboard also allows for competitive analysis. By selecting a specific technology area, such as transmission of digital information, we can see who the company is competing against from a patent perspective. This feature allows companies to benchmark their statistics against those of the technology field, providing insights into their performance from a patent prosecution perspective.

Another powerful feature of the Patent 300® Dashboard is the ability to analyze law firm performance. Companies can benchmark the performance of law firms working for them, identifying areas of practice where some firms’ stats are higher than others. This can help companies decide who should handle the next case and understand how law firms are practicing.

The Patent 300® Dashboard also provides insights into costs. By customizing costs based on what a company pays for various patent prosecution activities, the dashboard can calculate the actual prosecution history of patents and determine where the costs are. This can help companies benchmark the relative costs of their firms and decide where to allocate their budget more effectively.

The dashboard also offers a portfolio gap analysis feature. This allows companies to compare their patent portfolios side by side from a CPC perspective. This feature can be used for licensing purposes, pre-litigation analysis, and mergers and acquisitions analysis.

The Patent 300® Dashboard additionally provides examiner and art unit statistics, giving a high-level view of examiner and art unit statistics in all prosecution areas. This can be particularly useful for law firms wanting to understand how they are performing in specific technology areas.

Another useful feature of the dashboard is that it provides insights into maintenance fees. Companies can see where the costs are in their patent portfolio and compare their maintenance fee strategies with competitors. This can help companies adjust their maintenance fee strategies and manage their patent portfolio more effectively.

Overall, the Patent 300® Dashboard is a powerful tool for gaining competitive intelligence. It provides a wealth of information that can help companies and law firms make informed decisions and strategic adjustments. Whether you’re looking to understand your patent portfolio, benchmark your performance against the field, analyze law firm performance, manage costs, or gain insights into maintenance fees, the Patent 300® Dashboard has you covered. Check it out now at https://harrityllp.com/patent300!

See a detailed tutorial on using the Patent 300® Dashboard for Competitive Intelligence in the video below:

An infographic image depicting the top 15 companies that obtained patents in 2022

Infographic of the Top 15 Companies Obtaining Patents in 2022

Patent Analytics , , , ,

Each year, Harrity Analytics releases the annual Patent 300® List, a ranking of the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining US utility patents.  Patents reflect a company’s investment in innovation and their commitment to protecting their intellectual property.

This ranking is based on a count of the total number of US utility patent obtained in 2022.

The Top 15 Companies represent 15% of the 323,018 total utility patents issued in 2022.  The total patents issued in 2022 dropped 1% from the prior year.

Click HERE for a larger version of the infographic.

 

Harrity Named Juristat Top Patent Firm for 4th Year

Firm News , , , ,

Harrity & Harrity has been named a Top Patent Firm by Juristat for a fourth consecutive year.

The list, backed by a database of more than 10 million pending, abandoned, and granted patent applications, objectively analyzes the performance of every law firm practicing within the USPTO to establish the rankings.

Juristat’s rankings consider both volume and performance in that specific technology center, with rankings based on how well a firm performed in three key metrics over a 12-month period. These metrics are:

  • Number of applications filed
  • Allowance rate
  • Average number of office actions before allowance

Harrity came in at #1 for Technology Center 2400 (Computer Networks, Multiplex, Cable and Cryptography/Security) and Technology Center 2600 (Communications).

See the full list by Juristat HERE.

To learn more about our patent services, click HERE.

Harrity Analytics’ Top Patent Firms List Featured in Law360

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

The newly released 2022 Top Patent Firms List by Harrity Patent Analytics and accompanying data is featured in a recent Law360 article, titled This Firm Keeps Reeling In The Most Utility Patents.

“The law firm that won the most utility patents in 2021 has again taken the No. 1 spot in 2022, with nearly 5,200 secured utility patents, according to a new report from Harrity Patent Analytics.

Fish & Richardson PC increased the number of patents secured by the firm by 4% in 2022, obtaining 5,186 patents compared to 2021’s 5,004, according to Harrity’s 2022 Top Patent Firms. Sughrue Mion PLC and Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt LLP again rounded out the top three.

‘The list demonstrates which patent firms are still big players, while providing insight for both clients and firms to make strategic decisions moving forward,’ Rocky Berndsen, the head of Harrity Patent Analytics, said in a statement.”

Read the full article at HERE.

See the 2022 Top Patent Firms List HERE. Learn more about our patent analytics capabilities by visiting the Harrity Analytics site HERE.

Bloomberg Features Patent 300® by Harrity Analytics

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

The newly released 2023 Patent 300® List by Harrity Patent Analytics and accompanying data is featured in a recent article by Brody Ford for Bloomberg, titled IBM Loses Top Patent Spot After Decades as Leader.

“International Business Machines Corp. dropped from the top spot for US patents in 2022, the first time in decades Big Blue hasn’t claimed the most in a year, signaling a strategy shift at the longtime intellectual property leader,” the article begins.

“IBM’s patent count declined 44% to 4,743 patents in 2022, falling to No. 2 behind Samsung Electronics Co.’s 8,513, according to Harrity LLP’s Patent 300 list. Technologies such as semiconductors and hardware memory saw the largest drop in IBM patents, though the reduction was across all major types.”

Read the full article at HERE.

See the 2023 Patent 300® List HERE. Learn more about our patent analytics capabilities by visiting the Harrity Analytics site HERE.

Rocky Berndsen Featured in IAM Article: Covid Impact on US Patent Filings

Articles, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics, Team , , , , , ,

A recent article by Angela Morris for IAM features patent data and insight from Rocky Berndsen, Head of the Harrity Patent Analytics Team. Using the annual Patent 300® report, Rocky provides reasoning for the apparent decline in patents from major players since the start of Covid.

“The slide in patent grants means something, according to Rocky Berndsen, head of patent analytics at Harrity & Harrity, which conducted the data analysis.

First, it could be indicative of changing prosecution patterns. ‘Thinking back, 2020 was the covid year. It was really when it started hitting and we all had the shut-downs. But some of the impact is showing in the 2021 data. We had a drop-off in 2021 as a result of what was happening in 2020. There is a lag that happens in the patent field with filings and prosecution budgets,’ explains Berndsen.”

Read the full article at HERE.

Learn more about our patent analytics capabilities by visiting the Harrity Analytics site HERE.

AT&T Slips in Patent Rankings, Rocky Berndsen Quoted for DBJ

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

A recent article by Brian Womack, Staff Writer for Dallas Business Journal, referred to data and expertise from Rocky Berndsen and the Harrity Patent Analytics Team’s Patent 300® report over the decline in patents from wireless conglomerate AT&T.

“AT&T lost some ground with patent numbers, a report shows — though an executive said fluctuations aren’t anything new. The company saw the number of utility patents issued fall 26% in 2021 compared to 2020, according to the Patent 300 List by Harrity Patent Analytics. The Dallas telecommunications giant’s ranking slipped to No. 36 from the No. 27 spot in the previous year, according to Rocky Berndsen, head of patent analytics at Harrity & Harrity,” Womack begins.

Read the full article at HERE.

Learn more about our patent analytics capabilities by visiting the Harrity Analytics site HERE.

Visual Capitalist Features Patent 300® by Harrity Analytics

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

Visual Capitalist is one of the fastest growing online publishers globally, focused on topics including markets, technology, energy and the global economy, making data more accessible through infographics that simplify the high volume of data sources and show readers the bigger picture.

Harrity is honored to be featured in one of the latest Visual Capitalist’s datastreams, Visualizing Companies with the Most Patents Granted in 2021, by Raul Amoros.

“Companies around the world invest billions in R&D to provide cutting-edge innovation to their products and services. In order to protect these investments, companies apply for patents. Therefore, the number of utility patents a company is granted can be considered a rough measure of its level of innovation.

Every year, the Patent 300 List identifies America’s most innovative companies within the intellectual property space by analyzing the patents granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

In 2021, the USPTO granted a total of 327,798 utility patents, down 7% from the previous year. Let’s take a look at which companies generated the most patents in 2021.”

Read the full article at HERE.

Learn more about our patent analytics capabilities by visiting the Harrity Analytics site HERE.

Track One Filings on Faster Track?

Articles, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , , ,

Are Track One Filings on a Faster Track?

By Neil Kardos, Partner

Does filing a Track One prioritized examination request increase the chances of getting a patent? I discussed this idea in a recent Practical Patents video, and below is a chart of the data broken down by USPTO technology center.

Track One applications have a higher allowance rate compared to non-Track One applications across all technology centers, ranging from a 7% boost to a 21% boost.

The boost from Track One is particularly significant (16%-21%) in technology areas with lower allowance rates, like chemical, biotech, and business methods.

Of course, correlation is not causation. Does filing a Track One request boost the chances of getting a patent, or are patent applications that already have a higher chance of success being filed with Track One requests?

My guess: it’s a bit of both.

What do you think?

Learn more about our patent analytics capabilities by visiting the Harrity Analytics site HERE.

Harrity Named Juristat Top Patent Firm for Third Year

Firm News , , , ,

Harrity & Harrity has been named a Top Patent Firm by Juristat for a third consecutive year. Harrity is one of 66 firms to top the list consecutively.

The list, backed by a database of more than 10 million pending, abandoned, and granted patent applications, objectively analyzes the performance of every law firm practicing within the USPTO to establish the rankings.

Harrity came in at for Technology Center 2400, #9 in Technology Center 2600, and #13 in Technology Center 3600.

To learn more about our patent services, visit harrityllp.com.

Using Examiner Analytics for Prosecution

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , , ,

A Look at Examiner Analytics

By Paul Harrity, Managing Partner

If you had a patent application with a particular Examiner and these were the only statistics that you had regarding the Examiner, what could you tell about this Examiner?

I can tell a number of things about this Examiner from these statistics. Here are some of the things I would know about this Examiner:

 
1. The Examiner is a more senior patent examiner with about 10 or 11 years of experience (assuming that the 40 patents that the Examiner issued last year is their average).
 
2. The Examiner allows a lot more applications than the Examiner abandons (i.e., the Examiner issued 40 patents last year compared to 2 abandonments). So, this seems like someone who I can work with to get to an allowance.
 
3. The Examiner allows more applications than the average patent examiner in the Examiner’s art unit (i.e., the Examiner’s 95% allowance rate is higher than the art unit average of 90%). Further, the Examiner has issued more than half of the patents issued by the entire art unit so far this year (i.e., the Examiner issued 18 patents YTD, compared to the 33 patents issued by the entire art unit). This is further evidence that this is someone who I can work with to get to an allowance.
 
4. The Examiner’s allowance rate of 95% for the entire prior year implies that this is a patent examiner who might be willing to work with applicants to move an application towards allowance.
 
What else do you see?
 
You can get FREE examiner analytics today – right now. Go to www.patentprufer.com and sign up today.

Learn more about our patent analytics capabilities by visiting the Harrity Analytics site HERE.

Top Medical Device Companies in 2021 US Patents

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

Top Medical Device Companies in 2021 US Patents

By Rocky Berndsen, Head of Harrity Analytics

Medical devices are a $432 billion dollar global industry and here are the top 20 companies patenting in the US. Overall, these companies obtained 8% fewer patents in 2021 compared to 2020. Most of these companies are filing first in the US, with Philips as an exception.

Over 40% of the patents issued are continuations, Considering that the average number of continuations in 2021 was 23%, this shows the strategic continuation patenting in the medical device space.

Of note is the variability in the average office actions per patent and RCEs per patent statistics in the medical device space. The highest office actions per patent is 2.4 and the lowest is 1.3. The highest RCEs per patent is 0.8 and the lowest is 0.3.

Kudos to Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Philips, Boston Scientific, Stryker, Abbott, BD, SHIMADZU CORPORATION, Intuitive, and Baxter International Inc. for making the top 10!

Learn more about our patent analytics capabilities by visiting the Harrity Analytics site HERE.

Business Methods Patents Are Alive & Well!

Firm News, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , , , , , , ,

By Rocky Berndsen, Head of Harrity Patent Analytics

Business Method patents are alive and well! Here is a list of the top 25 companies that obtained patents in 2021 in the business method art units at the USPTO.

Surprisingly, this is one of the few areas where we see year over year growth in patenting. This increase in patenting may be due to the sea change that we’ve seen in how the USPTO has handled the prosecution of business method patents.

There is some interesting variation in the patent prosecution metrics for companies obtaining patents in this space. This list is a who’s who of high-technology and fin-tech companies.

I’m surprised to see that significant percentage of patents in this space that are con/div.

What do you think? Find me on Linkedin and let me know your thoughts!

Want to see more interesting patent analytics? Check out our newest Patent 300® list here!

 

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

Comparing Auto Manufacturer’s Patent Data to Sales, Revenues, and R&D

Firm News, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , , , , , , ,

By Rocky Berndsen, Head of Harrity Patent Analytics

 

One of my favorite ways to look at patent data is by comparing the data to sales, revenues, and R&D. Here are the top Auto Manufacturers that obtained patents in the US. I’ve included data from our patent database, and from www.goodcarbadcar.com.

This stat is interesting – Cars Sold to Patents. There could be a couple of insights drawn from this stat.

Here are some of my thoughts:
1. How much does a company value patenting – a higher ratio may indicate that the company places less value on patenting.
2. How much are patents playing in driving sales – a lower ratio may indicate that patents play a bigger role in driving sales
3. Which companies are innovating the most in the space relative to market size – using cars sold to normalize the quantity of patents provides a more direct benchmark.

Connect with me on Linkedin and let me know your thoughts on this statistic and what other kinds of stats you’d find interesting.

You can find more patent data on the top companies by viewing our Patent 300® List HERE.

 

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

Harrity Analytics Announces Top Patent Firms of 2021

Firm News, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , , , , ,

HARRITY PATENT ANALYTICS ANNOUNCES THE TOP PATENT FIRMS OF 2021

WASHINGTON (January 20, 2022) –  Harrity Patent Analytics is excited to announce the Top Patent Firms of 2021. The list, published annually, ranks industry-leading patent law firms based on the total number of U.S. utility patents issued in the past year.

The 2021 Top Patent Firms list incorporates multiple categories of prosecution statistics, including 7 new categories, such as rank in US First Filings and rank in Foreign Priority Filings.

Fish & Richardson surpasses Oblon for the first time in list history, taking the #1 spot in both overall and US first filings. Other notable changes on the list include Kilpatrick Townsend dropping from the #7 spot to #11, and Foley & Lardner moving up from #8 to #5.  Some newcomers to the list in 2021 include Kacvinsky Daisak Bluni at #109, and Fig. 1 Patents at #282.

The Top 10 firms of 2021 in overall utility patents are:

  1. Fish & Richardson P.C. (5025)
  2. Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt LLP (4620)
  3. Sughrue Mion PLC (4398)
  4. Cantor Colburn LLP (3652)
  5. Foley & Lardner LLP (3416)
  6. Oliff PLC (3297)
  7. Birch Stewart Kolach & Birch LLP (3250)
  8. Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP (3014)
  9. Shwegman Lundberg & Woessner P.A. (2995)
  10. Harness Dickey & Pierce PLC (2963)

 

“The differences on this year’s Top Patent Firm rankings align with what we saw on the Patent 300®, with big companies filing less patents than in previous years, and therefore the law firms doing their work obtaining less patents – likely due to budgetary restraints imposed by the ongoing pandemic. The list demonstrates which patent firms are still big players, while providing insight for both clients and firms to make strategic decisions moving forward,” states Rocky Berndsen, Head of Harrity Patent Analytics.

The Top Patent Firms list is accompanied by an interactive dashboard and includes patent firms that have obtained at least 50 U.S. utility patents where the patent firms are listed on the front of the utility patents. Company legal departments have not been eliminated from the list.  The full list is available here.

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

###

Harrity Analytics Releases 2022 Design Patent 100 List

Firm News, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , , , , ,

HARRITY PATENT ANALYTICS RELEASES THE 2022 DESIGN PATENT 100 LIST

List ranks top 100 companies, organizations, and universities in the design patent field

WASHINGTON (January 11, 2022) – Harrity Patent Analytics has released the 2022 publication of its annual Design Patent 100 List.  The list ranks the top 100 companies, organizations and universities in the patent field based on the total number of U.S. design patents issued in the past year.  The top 10 innovators from the 2022 Design Patent 100 List include:

  1. Samsung (615)
  2. Nike (541)
  3. Apple (438)
  4. LG (220)
  5. Ford (210)
  6. Alphabet (209)
  7. MASCO Corporation (194)
  8. Tata Sons (159)
  9. Porsche (152)
  10. P&G (141)

Samsung Electronics surpassed Nike to take the #1 spot, with a 4% increase from last year. Nike dropped to the #2 position with a 22% decrease from last year.  Overall, this year’s Top 10 saw an average 1% decrease from the previous year.  Other notable changes include MASCO Corporation’s debut to the Top 10, ranking 7th with a 59% increase, and Spigen Inc, dropping off the Top 10 to #12, with a 46% decrease. Bissell Homecare had the largest increase in design patents since 2020, at 1500%.

“The Design Patent 100 List identifies the global innovation leaders obtaining design patents in the United States,” said Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics for Harrity & Harrity. “The data contained in the Patent 300® Dashboard, such as the Design Patent 100 List, provides invaluable information to companies, in-house counsel, marketing teams, and law firms alike because it identifies the key players in design innovation and summarizes what is happening today in the patent world.”

For detailed analytics on the Design Patent 100, visit Harrity’s Patent 300® Dashboard, the intellectual property industry’s premier resource for patent insights and competitive intelligence on the world’s leaders in technology and design innovation.  The Dashboard contains analytics on more than 6,000,000 patents, including patent portfolio analyses, detailed patent prosecution insights, technology area breakdowns, and portfolio cost and budget analytics.

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

###

A Look at Patent 300® Companies’ Office Actions Per Patent

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics, Team , , , , , , ,

HARRITY PATENT ANALYTICS: A LOOK AT PATENT 300® COMPANIES’ OFFICE ACTIONS PER PATENT

By Rocky Berndsen, Head of Harrity Analytics

One of the stats I find most interesting in the patent field is the office action per patent statistic. There can be so many reasons why this statistic could vary so greatly from company to company. Here are a few of my ideas on the factors that go into it.

1. Filing strategy / Claim breadth – some filers will fight tooth and nail for every claim, whereas, other filers are just trying to get to allowance as quickly as possible.

2. Technology area – some technology areas may be more difficult to get patents in for a number of reasons (e.g., quality prior art, large numbers of filings, patentability issues).

3. Prosecution quality – the quality of prosecution quality varies from firm to firm, and even from attorney to attorney.

4. Foreign priority – apps with foreign priority tend to have fewer office actions per patent and typically will have fewer claims.

5. Budget/Cost consideration – prosecution strategy may be impacted by budget and therefore applications that reach higher numbers of office actions or RCEs may be abandoned.

6. Continuation strategy – continuation filings will tend to have fewer office actions than original priority filings.

Below, you can see the Patent 300® Companies with the highest and lowest office actions per patent.

I’d love to hear if you have any additional thoughts on the factors that go into these OA statistics.

The official 2022 ranking of the top 300 companies, organizations and universities can be found here. You can find more information regarding prosecution statistics in the interactive Patent 300® Dashboard here.

 

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

Law 360: IBM, Samsung Keep Top Spots On Annual Patent 300® List

Firm News, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics, Team , , , , , ,

Law360 publishes report based on Harrity Analytic’s annual Patent 300® List.

Law360 (January 6, 2022, 7:42 PM EST) — IBM Corp. maintained its long-running status as the top patent owner in 2021 while Samsung clocked in close behind, but patent grants to companies that notched a spot on the list highlighting the top 300 patent owners released Thursday were largely down…

Rocky Berndsen, head of patent analytics at Harrity & Harrity, told Law360 in an interview that the drops in patent grants in 2021 can be partly attributed to budget considerations spurred by the pandemic.

“Anecdotally, what we can see from this year’s list is that some companies have been more strategic with what patent applications they continued to prosecute in light of those budget considerations,” Berndsen said. “Maybe last year, or the year before, they would’ve filed or prosecuted more applications. But they decided to drop some, and so we’re seeing the results of that in this year’s list.”

But there were some companies that landed on the list for the first time, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. at 275. Berndsen said that reflects growth happening in the fintech world.

“There’s a lot of technology development in fintech, and we’re seeing a lot of that with a company like JPMorgan Chase making the list for the first time this year,” he said.

Read the full Law360 report by Britain Eakin here.

 

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

Harrity Analytics Releases 2022 Patent 300® List

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , , , , ,

HARRITY PATENT ANALYTICS RELEASES THE 2022 PATENT 300® LIST

Top 300 innovators in the patent field ranked by patents obtained

WASHINGTON (January 6, 2022) – Harrity Patent Analytics is excited to announce the release the 2022 Patent 300® List.  The annual list ranks the top 300 companies, organizations and universities in the patent field based on the total number of U.S. utility patents issued in the past twelve months.  The top 20 players from the newly published Patent 300® List include:

  1. IBM (8540)
  2. Samsung Electronics (8517)
  3. LG Corporation (4388)
  4. Canon (3400)
  5. Huawei (2955)
  6. Intel (2835)
  7. TSMC (2807)
  8. Toyota (2753)
  9. Raytheon Technologies (2694)
  10. Sony (2624)
  11. Apple (2591)
  12. Microsoft (2453)
  13. Qualcomm (2165)
  14. BOE Technology (2141)
  15. Amazon (2110)
  16. Dell Technologies (2053)
  17. Alphabet (2015)
  18. Micron (1798)
  19. Panasonic (1715)
  20. Ford (1675)

 

IBM maintains the top spot in the list despite a significant drop in total patents with their spin-off of Kyndryl.  Notably, TSMC, Qualcomm, and Micron moved up the list, whereas Microsoft and Raytheon Technologies moved lower.  The biggest overall change in the list is the fact that total patents obtained by the Patent 300® was 22,358 fewer in 2021 than in 2020.  The list accounts for 54 percent of the more than 340,000 U.S. patents issued in 2021.

“The Patent 300® list, year after year, provides a barometer for the most innovative companies in the world”, says Rocky Berndsen, Head of Patent Analytics at Harrity & Harrity.  “You can really see who is innovating in dozens of different industries and also see who the up-and-coming technology companies are”.

Harrity Patent Analytics additionally offers the Patent 300® Dashboard for more detailed analytics on the Patent 300® List.  The dashboard is the intellectual property industry’s premier resource for patent insights and competitive intelligence on the world’s leaders in technology, containing analytics on more than 6,000,000 patents, including patent portfolio analyses, detailed patent prosecution insights, technology area breakdowns, and portfolio cost and budget analytics.

The Patent 300® Dashboard provides in-house counsel, law firm partners, marketing teams, and c-suite executives with a detailed analysis of the world’s technology leaders, ranging from technology giants such as IBM (ranked #1) and Samsung (ranked #2), to leading universities such as MIT (ranked #108) and Johns Hopkins University (ranked #276), to newcomers including Kyndryl (ranked #117) and Snowflake (ranked #276).

The official 2022 ranking of the top 300 companies, organizations and universities can be found here.

 

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

Titans of Technology Blockchain

Titans of Technology: Blockchain / The Top Companies in Blockchain Patents 2021

Patent Analytics , , , , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

Blockchain patenting has been exploding since 2016 and with Bitcoin and Ethereum hitting new all-time highs this year, Harrity Analytics decided to refresh their 2019 analysis of the blockchain patent space, in order to find out which companies are now patenting heavily in blockchain technology and in which countries patents are being obtained.

 

TITANS OF TECHNOLOGY: BLOCKCHAIN DASHBOARD (Powered by Power BI)

Harrity Analytics has created a nine page interactive dashboard that gives users the ability to view the blockchain technology landscape by 1) countries, 2) worldwide companies, 3) US patents by company, 4) Chinese patents by company, 5) Korean patents by company, 6) EPO patents by company, 7) Competitive Analysis / Gap Analysis, 8) filing trends, 9) patent trends.  Try the dashboard below.

 

 

The top ten countries or jurisdictions in the blockchain patent space are China, the United States, Korea, EPO, PCT, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, and Australia.  China currently leads the number of active blockchain patents and pending applications with 34,562, a vast majority of those, 28,476, are pending applications. The United States is second in patenting with 8,759 active patents and pending applications. Korea is third with 4,035 active patents and pending applications in blockchain technology. Below is a chart showing totals for the top ten countries in the blockchain patent space.

 

Top Countries in Blockchain Patents 2021

Country/JurisdictionPatentPending ApplicationGrand Total
China60862847634562
United States321855418759
Korea191121244035
Europe (EPO)32919592288
WIPO (PCT)020182018
Japan56210871649
Taiwan6406041244
Singapore0789789
Canada97628725
Australia287398685

 

The top companies in the blockchain patent space vary based on the country or jurisdiction where the patenting is occurring. A worldwide view shows that most of the top companies in blockchain patenting are Chinese companies. With Alibaba, Ping An, Advanced New Technologies, and Tencent rounding out the top 4. Below is a chart of the top companies in the blockchain patent space worldwide.

 

Top Companies in Worldwide Blockchain Patents & Pending Applications - 2021

CompanyActive Worldwide Patents and Pending Applications
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd2588
Ping An Insurance (group); Company Of China, Ltd.2075
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd.1914
Tencent Holdings Ltd1703
Nchain Holdings Limited1196
Alipay.com Co., Ltd1094
International Business Machines Corp.962
Shenzhen Oneconnect Technology Co., Ltd.587
China United Network Communications Group Company Limited516
Baidu, Inc.429
Hangzhou Fuzamei Technology Co., Ltd.378
Mastercard Incorporated361
Bizmodeline Co Ltd320
China Pingan Property Insurance Stock Co., Ltd.288
Coinplug,inc260
Shenzhen Onething Technology Co., Ltd.257
Siemens Ag248
Shenzhen Qianhai Webank Co., Ltd.244
Shandong Aichengshiwang Information Technology Co., Ltd.222
Beijing Aimoruice Science And Technology Co., Ltd.222
Accenture Plc208
Bank Of China, Ltd.199
Visa Inc.192
Jiangsu Rongye Technology Company Limited187
Shenzhen Launch Tech Company Limited186
Microsoft Corporation185
Sony Corporation182
Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.180
Bank Of America Corporation169
Hangzhou Qulian Technology Ltd.155
Fujitsu Limited154
Taikang Life Insurance Co., Ltd.145
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.145
Intel Corporation145
Iallchain Co., Ltd.145
Hangzhou Qulian Technology Co.,ltd.145
Beijing Jingdong Shangke Information Technology Co., Ltd.143
Industrial & Commercial Bank Of China Ltd.142
Beijing Aimo Ruice Technology Co., Ltd.140
Zhongan Information Technology Services Co., Ltd.132
Capital One Financial Corp.132
Panasonic Corporation129
Guangdong University Of Technology123
Dell Technologies Inc.123
Nec Corporation122
Pingan Ind Co Ltd121
Xidian University107
Jpmorgan Chase & Co.107
Hitachi, Ltd.100
Shanghai Dianrong Information Technology Co., Ltd.98
Toronto-dominion Bank97
Nokia Corporation97
University Of Electronic Science And Technology Of China94
Hangzhou Yunphant Network Technology Co., Ltd.94
Black Gold Coin, Inc.90
Robert Bosch Gmbh89
One Connect Smart Technology Co., Ltd. (shenzhen)89
Lenovo Group Limited88
Shandong Icity Network Information Technology Co., Ltd.86
Nanjing University Of Posts And Telecommunications85
Toyota Motor Corporation82
Beijing Rui Zhuo Xi Tou Technology Development Co., Ltd.82
Salesforce.com, Inc.81
State Grid Corporation Of China80
Chongqing University80
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson78
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company76
Wal-mart Stores, Inc.75
China Unionpay Co., Ltd.75
Beijing Hai Yi Tong Zhan Information Technology Co., Ltd.74
Oracle Corporation73
Beijing University Of Posts And Telecommunications73
China Southern Power Grid Co Ltd72
Chinese Academy Of Sciences71
Beijing University Of Technology71
Bubi (beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd.70
Ford Motor Company69
Webank Spa68
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.68
Qihoo 360 Technology Co., Ltd.67
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.s.66
Beijing Ruice Technology Co., Ltd.66
Strong Force Tx Portfolio 2018, LLC65
The Government Of Germany63
Tsinghua University63
Paypal Holdings, Inc.63
Hangzhou Rivtower Technology Co., Ltd.63
Cloudminds (shenzhen) Holdings Co., Ltd.63
Shandong Inspur Qualink Technology Co., Ltd.62
Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute62
Sap Se61
Beihang University61
Wuhan University60
Deutsche Telekom Ag60
Aisino Co., Ltd60
General Electric Company59
Kt Corporation58
Cisco Systems, Inc.57
Netmarble Corporation56
Shaanxi Medicine Chain Block Chain Group Co., Ltd.55
Ygsoft Inc.54
China Mobile Communications Corporation54
Aowei Information Technology (jiangsu) Co., Ltd.54
AT&T Inc.53
Sinochem Corporation52
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company51
Gold Exchange51
Sinochain Tech Co Ltd49
Metaps Plus Inc.49
Zhejiang University48
China Construction Bank48
Bt Group Plc48
Keb Hana Bank47
Zhongshan University46
Hunan University45
American Express Company44
Netease, Inc.43
Innogy Se43
Instinct Block Chain Technology Co Ltd43
Kangjian Information Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.42
Jinan University42
The Boeing Company41
Honeywell International Inc.41
Americorp Investments LLC41
Tzero Ip, LLC40
Zhongchao Credit Card Industry Development Co., Ltd.40
Tencent Cloud Computing (beijing) Co., Ltd.40
Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.40
Myomega Systems Gmbh40
Fudan University40
Coinbase, Inc.40
Anhui Gaoshan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.40
Shanghai Vechain Information Technology Co., Ltd.39
Infobank Corp.39
Tenpay Payment Science And Technology Co., Ltd.38
Shenzhen Ansike Electronic Tech Co Ltd38
Shanghai Jiaotong University38
Merck Kgaa38
Huazhong University Of Science & Technology38
Ebay Inc.38
Beijing Octa Innovations Information Technology Co., Ltd.38
Nasdaq, Inc.37
Jiangsu Hengbao Intelligent System Technology Co., Ltd.37
Beijing Peersafe Technology Co., Ltd.37
Beijing Oracle Chain Technology Co., Ltd.37
Micron Technology, Inc.36
Jinan Inspur Hi-tech Investment Development Co., Ltd.36
Institute Of Information Engineering Cas36
Wells Fargo & Company35
Tianjin University35
Trueseen Ltd.35
Hangzhou Cryptape Technology Co., Ltd.35
Zall Research Institute Of Smart Commerce (wuhan) Co., Ltd.34
Lizhan34
Digital Asset (switzerland) Gmbh34
China Zheshang Bank Co Ltd34
Beijing Lan Kong Ke Chuang Technology Co. Ltd34
Atos Se34
United Services Automobile Association33
Thales Sa33
Sony Group Corporation33
Liannong (shenzhen) Information Technology Co., Ltd.33
Chengdu Stacs Technology Co., Ltd.33
Shenzhen Zhishuilian Technology Co., Ltd.32
Shenzhen University32
Shanghai Wanxiang Blockchain Inc.32
Swirlds, Inc.31
Royal Bank Of Canada31
Inveniam Capital Partners, Inc.31
Hepu Technology Development (beijing) Co., Ltd.31
Fisher Rosemount Systems Inc31
Beijing Wodong Tianjun Information Technology Co., Ltd.31
Beijing Kingsoft Internet Security Software Co. Ltd.31
Beijing Institute Of Technology31
Beijing Hai Tong Technology Co Ltd Emori31
Zhong Information Technology Service Co., Ltd.30
Verizon Communications Inc.30
Lbxc Co., Ltd.30
Inspur Group Co., Ltd.30
China Citic Bank Co Ltd30
Lapsechain Sa C/o Leax Avocats29
Hefei Dappworks Technology Co., Ltd.29
Daimler Ag29
Beijing Kingsoft Cloud Network Technology Co., Ltd.29
Algorand Inc.29
Winklevoss Ip, LLC28
Sogang University Research & Business Development Foundation28
Strong Force Intellectual Capital, LLC28
Porsche Automobil Holding Se28
Eygs Llp28
Guangzhou University28
Foshan Yisu Jusen Technology Co., Ltd.28
East China Normal University28
Avaya Inc28
Blockchain Asics, Inc.28
Zhejiang Gongshang University27
Workday, Inc.27
Shimadzu Corporation27
Sichuan Homwee Technology Co Ltd27
Shanghai Gonglian Information Technology Co., Ltd.27
Nhn Corporation27
Neusoft Corporation27
Modernity Financial Holdings, Ltd.27
Chung-ang University27
Abmax Biotechnology Co Ltd27
Union Mobile Pay Ltd26
Shenzhen Golo Chelian Data Technology Co., Ltd.26
Shenzhen Leiling Guangtong Technology Research And Development Co., Ltd.26
Northern Trust Corporation26
Hangzhou Gandao Technology Co., Ltd.26
Southeast University25
Shenzhen Jiupin Air Purification Technology Co., Ltd.25
Shaanxi Medical Chain Blockchain Group Co., Ltd.25
R3 Ltd.25
Shanghai Youyang Xinmei Information Technology Co., Ltd.25
Shanghai Distributed Technologies Co., Ltd.25
Ping'an Consumer Finance Co., Ltd.25
Peking University25
Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School25
Institute Of Computing Technology Of The Chinese Academy Of Sciences25
Foshan University25
Gree Group Co., Ltd.25
Beijing Tiandihexing Technology Co., Ltd.25
Beijing Haiying Institute Of Science And Technology Information25
Vechain Global Technology S.ar.l.24
Zte Corporation24
Thomson Reuters Corporation24
Sichuan Changhong Electric Co., Ltd.24
Softbank Corp.24
Jindie Software (china) Co., Ltd.24
Juzix Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.24
Innovative And Advance Technology Co., Ltd.24
Fubon Financial Holding Co Ltd.24
General Motors Company24
Dcun Corporation24
Cme Group Inc.24
Bitflyer Blockchain, Inc.24
Beijing Insight Chain Technology Co., Ltd.24
Amazon.com, Inc.24
Sichuan University23
South China University Of Technology23
Shenzhen City Naishidi Technology Development Co. Ltd.23
Shanghai Insurance Exchange Co., Ltd.23
National University Of Defense Technology Of The Chinese People's Liberation Army23
Putian City Zhuhuo Information Technology Co., Ltd.23
Nantworks, LLC23
Launch Tech Company Limited23
Fujian University Of Technology23
Denso Corporation23
Cryptape Inc.23
Boe Technology Group Co. Ltd23
Wuxi Jingtum Network Technology Co., Ltd.22
Sicpa Holding Sa22
Tianjin University Of Technology22
Shanghai Vonechain Information Technology Co., Ltd.22
Northeastern University22
Migu Culture Technology Co., Ltd.22
Hunan Tian He Guo Yun Technology Co., Ltd.22
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.22
Jiangsu University22
Hangzhou Dianzi University22
Hangzhou Yulan Technology Co., Ltd.22
Asahi Kasei Corporation22
Beijing Jingdong Zhenshi Information Technology Co., Ltd.22
Beijing Blockchain Cloud Technology Co., Ltd.22
State Grid Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd.21
Tbcasoft, Inc.21
Toshiba Corporation21
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.21
Motorola Solutions Inc21
Nanjing University Of Science And Technology21
Kddi Corporation21
Hunan Smart Government Block Chain Technology Co., Ltd.21
Hp Inc.21
Beijing Jd Finance Technology Holding Co., Ltd.21
Anhui Lingtuyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.21
Zhejiang Shuqin Technology Co., Ltd.20
Wuhan Douyu Network Technology Co., Ltd.20
Shenzhen Zhongke Zhicheng Technology Co., Ltd.20
Ruban Quantum Technology Co., Ltd.20
Shenzhen Beiyoutong New Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd.20
Nanjing Jinninghui Technology Co., Ltd.20
North China Electric Power University20
Hefei University Of Technology20
Hangzhou Hyperchain Technologies Co., Ltd.20
Guangzhou Youpu Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd.20
Financial And Risk Organisation Limited20
Cooperation Foundation Inje University Industry-academic20
Commissariat ? L'?nergie Atomique Et Aux ?nergies Alternatives20
Chongqing Huayi Kangdao Technology Co., Ltd.20
China Telecom Corporation Limited20
Xian Zhigui Internet Technology Co., Ltd.19
Zhongsi Boan Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.19
Xiaomi Inc.19
Shenzhen Turing Singularity Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.19
Shenzhen Saiante Technology Service Co., Ltd.19
Raytheon Technologies Corporation19
Ping Identity Corporation19
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.19
Macrogen Inc19
Nanjing Zhongcheng Block Chain Research Institute Co., Ltd.19
Fidelity Investments19
Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh19
Golo Iov Data Technology Co., Ltd.19
Dongguk University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation19
Dalian University Of Technology19
Akamai Technologies, Inc.19
Beijing Arxan Fintech Co., Ltd.19
Bitflyer Inc.19
Acronis International Gmbh19
Beijing Bixing Technology Co., Ltd.19
Sk Telecom Co., Ltd.18
Tal Education Group18
Madisetti, Vijay18
Mcafee, LLC18
Hyundai Motor Company18
J2 Global, Inc.18
Innoplexus Ag18
Intuit Inc.18
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.18
Institute For Information Industry18
Jingdong Digital Technology Holdings Co., Ltd.18
China University Of Geoscience18
China Internet Network Information Center18
Dareway Software Co., Ltd.18
Civic Technologies18
Wangsu Science & Technology Co., Ltd.17
Xage Security, Inc.17
Shigengjian Data Technology (shanghai) Co., Ltd.17
Seagate Technology Plc17
Shanghai Heshu Software Co., Ltd.17
Shandong University17
Shanghai Ceying Network Technology Co., Ltd.17
Shenzhen Polytechnic17
Moneybreak LLC17
Mobile Innovations17
Mr. Ray, Inc.17
Kunming University Of Science And Technology17
Hefei Weitian Yuntong Information Science And Technology Co., Ltd.17
Kepco Kdn Co Ltd17
Guangdong Hongying Technology Co., Ltd.17
Endress+hauser (international) Holding Ag17
Fulian17
Hainan Univ17
Chengdu Sefon Software Co., Ltd.17
Comcast Corporation17
All It Top Co., Ltd.17
Baas17
Bank Of Taiwan17
Beijing Aimo Reechain Science And Technology Co., Ltd.17
Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.16
Siemens Energy Ag16
Strike Protocols Inc.16
Simpsx Technologies LLC16
Star Mesh LLC16
Shenzhen Xiaokong Communication Technology Co., Ltd.16
Shenzhen Dianlian Technology Co., Ltd.16
Pingan Trust Co., Ltd.16
No. 30 Institute Of China Electronic Technology Group Corporation16
Kasa Ltd.16
Chengdu High-tech Information Technology Research Institute16
China Merchants Group Ltd16
Cable Television Laboratories Inc16
Beijing Technology & Business Univ.16
3m Company16
Wenzhou Tusheng Science And Technology Co., Ltd.15
Xian University Of Posts And Telecommunications15
Tata Sons Ltd15
Smartmd15
T0.com, Inc.15
Tongji University15
Shenzhen Great China Blockchain Technology Co., Ltd.15
Nanjing Ruixi Information Technology Co., Ltd.15
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation15
Nanjing Trusted Blockchain And Algorithm Economic Research Institute Co., Ltd.15
Netspective Communications LLC Maryland15
Pingan International Finance Lease Co., Ltd.15
Nike, Inc.15
Jiangsu Pay Egis Technology Co., Ltd.15
Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology15
Johnson Controls International Plc15
Hangzhou Shichuang Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.15
Foundation Of Soongsil University-industry Cooperation15
Guilin University Of Electronic Technology15
Dish Network Corp.15
Dongguan Monda Plastic-chemical Technology Co., Ltd.15
Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.15
Beijing Haopukang Technology Co., Ltd.15
Ant Blockchain Technology (shanghai) Co., Ltd15
Adp, LLC15
Anchor Labs15
Wealedger Network Technologies Co., Ltd.14
Voice Life, Inc.14
Zhihuigu (xiamen) Iot Technology Co., Ltd.14
Xian Jiaotong Univ14
Tcl Corporation14
Shenzhen Technology Co Ltd Blue To Di14
Suzhou Dajiaying Information Technology Co., Ltd.14
Shenzhen Ars(advanced River System) Technology Co., Ltd.14
Shenzhen Blockcontinent Technology Co., Ltd.14
Puhua Yunchuang Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.14
Obook Inc14
Infineon Technologies Ag14
Fujifilm Holdings Corp14
Cognitive Scale, Inc.14
Central South University14
Bundesrepublik Deutschland14
Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation14
Changsha University Of Science And Technology14
Beijing Feitian Technologies14
Ali Group S.r.l.14
A.l.i. Technologies Inc14
Beijing Wuzi University14
Beatdapp Software Inc.14
Yinqing Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.13
Zhejiang Normal Univ.13
Ylz Information Technology Co., Ltd.13
Xiamen Shunshi Gongshi Information Technology Co., Ltd.13
United Parcel Service, Inc.13
Xiangtan University13
University Of Science And Technology Of China13
Soonchunhyang University13
Suzhou City Xingji Yuntong Blockchain Technology Co., Ltd.13
Suzhou Tongji Blockchain Research Institute Co., Ltd.13
Suzhou Inspur Intelligent Software Co., Ltd.13
The Walt Disney Company13
Skuchain, Inc.13
Qilu University Of Technology13
Rad Group13
Shaanxi Medicine Chain Group Co., Ltd.13
Schneider Electric Sa13
Securrency, Inc13
Shenzhen Lvyuan Huizhi Technology Co., Ltd.13
Moog Inc.13
Pinganfu Technology Service Co., Ltd.13
Monticello Enterprises LLC13
Neural Technologies Ltd13
Nanjing Reborn Quantum Technology Co., Ltd.13
Harbin Engineering University13
Jilin University13
Iconloop Inc.13
Harbin Institute Of Technology13
Itext Group Nv13
Indexmine. Inc.13
Leadpoint13
Jiangsu Tongfudun Information Technology Co., Ltd.13
Hanyang University13
International Trust Machines Corporation13
Hangzhou Wopu Iot Technology Co., Ltd.13
Guangdong Hongxin E-commerce Technology Co., Ltd.13
Facebook, Inc.13
Gsc Secrypt, LLC13
Chengdu University Of Technology13
China Electronic Technology Cyber Security Co., Ltd.13
Chongqing Jinvovo Network Technology Co., Ltd.13
Chongqing University Of Science And Technology13
Beijing Huitong Jincai Information Technology Co., Ltd.13
Acer Incorporated13
Beijing Guorenbao Technology Co., Ltd.13
Abb Ltd13
Zhejiang University Of Technology12
Wipro Limited12
Uni-ledger Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.12
Yantai University12
Way2bit Co. Ltd.12
Xerox Corporation12
Wistron Corporation12
University Of Science And Technology Beijing12
Yonsei University12
Tmrw Foundation Ip And Holding Sarl12
Shenzhen Qianhai Wealedger Network Technology Co., Ltd.12
Seiko Epson Corporation12
Shanghai Development Center Of Computer Software Technology12
Shandong Inspur Cloud Service Information Technology Co., Ltd.12
Security Matters Ltd.12
Shanghai Qiyin Information Technology Co Ltd12
Quliantong Network Co., Ltd.12
Refinitiv Us Organization LLC12
National Computer Network And Information Security Management Center12
Markany Inc12
Mocana Corp.12
Orange Sa12
Mythical, Inc.12
Ncr Corporation12
Pingan Yiqianbao E-commerce Co., Ltd.12
Nanjing University12
Loyyal Corporation12
Medibloc Co., Ltd.12
International Game Technology Plc12
Lg Electronics Inc.12
Korea University12
Information And Telecommunication Branch Of State Grid Anhui Electric Power Company12
Kyocera Corporation12
Jiangxi University Of Science And Technology12
Korea Minting Security Printing & Id Card Operating Corp12
Guangzhou Zhihong Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.12
Guangzhou Yuejian Sanhe Software Co.,ltd.12
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.12
Guangdong Hongxin Enterprise Service Co., Ltd.12
Guangxi University12
Ebaonet Healthcare Information Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.12
Digital Asset Holdings, LLC12
China Academy Of Information And Communications Technology12
Chronicled, Inc.12
Advent International Corporation12
Adobe Inc.12
Beijing Yuanlangchao Technology Co., Ltd.12
Anhui University Of Science & Technology12
Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag12
Beijing Thinkey Technologies Co., Ltd.12
Zhengzhou University11
Zhengzhou Normal Univ11
Xiamen Keruisheng Technology Co., Ltd.11
Smartsky Networks LLC11
Silictec (shenzhen) Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.11
The Carlyle Group, L.p.11
Shimano Inc.11
Shenzhen Qianhai Huanrong Lianyi Information Technology Service Co., Ltd.11
State Grid Block Chain Technology (beijing) Company11
Stringon Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.11
Renmin University Of China11
Shanxi Texin Huanyu Information Technology Co., Ltd.11
Shandong Daige Information Technology Co., Ltd.11
Qufu Normal University11
Sensoriant, Inc.11
Quantum Gate Inc.11
Shandong Inspur Co Ltd11
Linkeychain Intelligent Technology (shanghai) Co., Ltd.11
Liquineq Ag11
Line Plus Corporation11
Hangzhou Zhikuai Network Technology Co., Ltd.11
Korea Information Security Management Institute11
Hasan, Syed11
Kunming Dabangke Technology Co., Ltd.11
Industrial Technology Research Institute11
Guangzhou Yibite Blockchain Technology Co., Ltd.11
Gk8 Ltd.11
Gulbrandsen, Magnus11
Guangxi Normal University11
Dongyuan (beijing) Digital Technology Co., Ltd.11
Edvanst Nyu Teknolodzhiz Ko., Ltd.11
Core Scientific, Inc.11
Cssc Systems Engineering Research Institute11
Chongqing Huihui Information Technology Co., Ltd.11
Beijing Zhibangbang Technology Co., Ltd.11
Blockchain Inc.11
Biovoice Information Technology Co., Ltd.11
Blockchain Asics LLC11
Block Chain Security Corp.11
Ai Biomaterial Healthtech Ltd.11
Agricultural Bank Of China11
Tzero Group, Inc.10
Uvue Ltd10
Yangzhou University10
Zamna Technologies Limited10
Yocto Technologies, S.l.10
Vechain Foundation Limited10
Shenzhen Zhonghui Zhiti Technology Co., Ltd.10
Southern University Of Science And Technology10
The Industry & Academic Cooperation In Chungnam National University Iac10
Telefonica S.a.10
Tianyi Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd.10
Shenzhen Yilian Information System Co., Ltd.10
Terminus Technologies, Inc.10
Shanghai Wurong Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.10
Shanghai Mohe Network Technology Co., Ltd.10
Quark Chain Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.10
Shenzhen Fanxi Electronics Co., Ltd.10
Ruiya Blockchain Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.10
Shenzhen Fubei Technology Co., Ltd.10
Shanghai Yuanlu Jiajia Information Science And Technology Co., Ltd.10
Servicenow, Inc.10
Shenzhen Buyun Technology Co., Ltd.10
Shanghai Jianshi Network Technology Co., Ltd.10
Sf Tech Co., Ltd.10
Meilai Network Technology (shanghai) Co., Ltd.10
Linius (aust) Pty Ltd10
Northwestern University10
Nok Nok Labs, Inc.10
Nantong University10
Platon Sa10
Nanjing Institute Of Technology10
Mobilitie, LLC10
Nexon Co., Ltd.10
Ningbo Fuwan Information Technology Co., Ltd.10
Jiangsu Peerfintech Technology Co., Ltd.10
Jiangsu Hengwei Information Technology Co., Ltd.10
Hohai Univ.10
Jiangsu Worldallwell Holdings Co., Ltd.10
Koch Industries10
Lapsechain Sa10
Leverage Rock LLC10
Jiangsu Aowei Holdings Co., Ltd.10
Infrared5 Inc.10
Lianqi Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.10
Eluvio, Inc.10
Farmobile, LLC10
Fuzhou University10
Guangzhou Block Zero Chain Technology Co., Ltd.10
Eight Plus Ventures, LLC10
Dongguan Dayi Industry Chain Service Co., Ltd.10
Domos, LLC10
Chengdu Lingguang Quantum Technology Co Ltd10
China University Of Petroleum10
Digitalzone Co., Ltd.10
Chengdu Shangtongshidai Digital Technology Co., Ltd.10
Cambridge Blockchain, Inc.10
Ccb Fintech Co., Ltd.10
Chongqing Xiaoyudian Small Loan Co., Ltd.10
Cheju National University Industry-academic Cooperation Foundation10
Beijing Tianyi Science Trade Co10
Beijing Jiaotong University10
Beijing Tus Data Asset Technology Development Co., Ltd.10
Barclays Execution Services Limited10
Axell Corporation10
Balanced Media Technology, LLC10
Ajou University10

 

When you look at the top companies in the blockchain space that are patenting in the United States a different picture takes shape. IBM and Advanced New Technologies dominate the blockchain space in the United States. Of particular note in the United States is the number of banks and financial services companies patenting heavily in blockchain technology including Bank of America, MasterCard, Capital One, Visa, and TD Bank.  Below is a chart showing the top players in the blockchain patent space in the United States.

 

Top Companies in US Blockchain Patents & Pending Applications - 2021

CompanyUS PatentsUS Pending ApplicationsGrand Total
International Business Machines Corp.341435776
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd.453310763
Bank Of America Corporation8979168
Nchain Holdings Limited3150153
Mastercard Incorporated45104149
Dell Technologies Inc.5753110
Capital One Financial Corp.5451105
Accenture Plc494089
Microsoft Corporation335487
Intel Corporation265379
Visa Inc.175269
Toyota Motor Corporation125567
Salesforce.com, Inc.125163
Toronto-dominion Bank263157
Tencent Holdings Ltd55257
Sony Corporation154156
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company74855
Strong Force Tx Portfolio 2018, LLC15253
AT&T Inc.262753
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company361551
Jpmorgan Chase & Co.84351
Sap Se143347
Siemens Ag34447
Nec Corporation93645
Coinplug,inc311445
Cisco Systems, Inc.301545
Wal-mart Stores, Inc.162642
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.103242
Panasonic Corporation93039
Alipay.com Co., Ltd142539
Paypal Holdings, Inc.112738
Fujitsu Limited72734
United Services Automobile Association33033
Nokia Corporation52732
Deutsche Telekom Ag161632
Wells Fargo & Company30131
Oracle Corporation102131
Inveniam Capital Partners, Inc.92231
Coinbase, Inc.131831
American Express Company72431
Verizon Communications Inc.141630
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd82129
Baidu, Inc.22729
Winklevoss Ip, LLC26228
Ebay Inc.52227
General Electric Company101626
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson22325
Hitachi, Ltd.81725
Workday, Inc.101424
Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.22224
Ford Motor Company61723
Americorp Investments LLC13821
Honeywell International Inc.41620
Tzero Ip, LLC51419
R3 Ltd.61319
Amazon.com, Inc.12719
Strong Force Intellectual Capital, LLC21618
Micron Technology, Inc.51318
Madisetti, Vijay14418
Cme Group Inc.9918
Bt Group Plc71118
Robert Bosch Gmbh21517
Ping Identity Corporation13417
Myomega Systems Gmbh61117
Mobile Innovations16117
Eygs Llp31417
Acronis International Gmbh10717
Strike Protocols Inc.11516
Seagate Technology Plc41216
Simpsx Technologies LLC11516
Nantworks, LLC7916
Innoplexus Ag61016
Fidelity Investments7916
Xage Security, Inc.13215
Netspective Communications LLC Maryland7815
Innogy Se8715
Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute31215
Blockchain Asics, Inc.14115
The Boeing Company31114
Raytheon Technologies Corporation10414
Nasdaq, Inc.8614
Cognitive Scale, Inc.8614
Royal Bank Of Canada31013
Johnson Controls International Plc9413
Akamai Technologies, Inc.4913
Mythical, Inc.9312
Refinitiv Us Organization LLC6612
Ncr Corporation21012
Gsc Secrypt, LLC12012
Dish Network Corp.4812
Cable Television Laboratories Inc11112
Civic Technologies8412
Avaya Inc5712
Adobe Inc.5712
Black Gold Coin, Inc.9312
The Carlyle Group, L.p.10111
Digital Asset (switzerland) Gmbh3811
Sensoriant, Inc.4610
Nike, Inc.2810
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.2810
Mcafee, LLC5510
Launch Tech Company Limited01010
Eight Plus Ventures, LLC9110
Facebook, Inc.2810
Comcast Corporation1910
Cloudminds (shenzhen) Holdings Co., Ltd.4610
Adp, LLC3710

 

When you look at the top companies in the blockchain space that are patenting in China it stands out that a significant proportion of the applications in China are pending applications and have not yet patented. This may indicate that most of the patenting in China is very recently filed applications. Ping An, Tencent, and Alibaba round out the top 3 companies patenting in the blockchain space in China.  Below is a chart of the top companies in the blockchain patent space in China.

 

Top Companies in Chinese Blockchain Patents & Pending Applications - 2021

CompanyChinese PatentsChinese Pending ApplicationsGrand Total
Ping An Insurance (group); Company Of China, Ltd.10717681875
Tencent Holdings Ltd42511451570
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd310684994
Alipay.com Co., Ltd267557824
Shenzhen Oneconnect Technology Co., Ltd.14558572
China United Network Communications Group Company Limited109407516
Hangzhou Fuzamei Technology Co., Ltd.87282369
Baidu, Inc.79268347
China Pingan Property Insurance Stock Co., Ltd.1287288
Shenzhen Qianhai Webank Co., Ltd.33209242
Shenzhen Onething Technology Co., Ltd.19204223
Shandong Aichengshiwang Information Technology Co., Ltd.0222222
Beijing Aimoruice Science And Technology Co., Ltd.24195219
Bank Of China, Ltd.10189199
Jiangsu Rongye Technology Company Limited9178187
Shenzhen Launch Tech Company Limited7179186
Nchain Holdings Limited1174175
Hangzhou Qulian Technology Ltd.32121153
Taikang Life Insurance Co., Ltd.17128145
Iallchain Co., Ltd.38107145
Industrial & Commercial Bank Of China Ltd.8134142
Beijing Aimo Ruice Technology Co., Ltd.8132140
Hangzhou Qulian Technology Co.,ltd.4135139
Beijing Jingdong Shangke Information Technology Co., Ltd.31108139
Pingan Ind Co Ltd0121121
Guangdong University Of Technology16105121
Zhongan Information Technology Services Co., Ltd.2197118
Xidian University3273105
Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.2181102
International Business Machines Corp.19697
Hangzhou Yunphant Network Technology Co., Ltd.217394
University Of Electronic Science And Technology Of China355893
Shanghai Dianrong Information Technology Co., Ltd.286189
Shandong Icity Network Information Technology Co., Ltd.08686
Nanjing University Of Posts And Telecommunications117384
Beijing Rui Zhuo Xi Tou Technology Development Co., Ltd.325082
Chongqing University107080
State Grid Corporation Of China136477
Beijing University Of Posts And Telecommunications274673
China Southern Power Grid Co Ltd96372
Bubi (beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd.284270
Chinese Academy Of Sciences254570
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd.581270
Beijing University Of Technology96069
Qihoo 360 Technology Co., Ltd.184967
Lenovo Group Limited95867
Beijing Ruice Technology Co., Ltd.36366
Hangzhou Rivtower Technology Co., Ltd.06363
Shandong Inspur Qualink Technology Co., Ltd.06262
Beihang University204161
Wuhan University134760
Aisino Co., Ltd25860
Beijing Hai Yi Tong Zhan Information Technology Co., Ltd.35760
Tsinghua University263359
Shaanxi Medicine Chain Block Chain Group Co., Ltd.35255
Ygsoft Inc.45054
Mastercard Incorporated74653
China Unionpay Co., Ltd.134053
Sinochem Corporation183452
China Mobile Communications Corporation143650
Sinochain Tech Co Ltd44549
Siemens Ag24749
China Construction Bank04848
Zhejiang University123547
Zhongshan University93746
Hunan University44145
Cloudminds (shenzhen) Holdings Co., Ltd.123244
Instinct Block Chain Technology Co Ltd53843
Kangjian Information Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.04242
Sony Corporation04141
Netease, Inc.122941
Zhongchao Credit Card Industry Development Co., Ltd.93140
Tencent Cloud Computing (beijing) Co., Ltd.04040
Jinan University103040
Fudan University53540
Anhui Gaoshan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.04040
Shanghai Vechain Information Technology Co., Ltd.73239
Tenpay Payment Science And Technology Co., Ltd.73138
Shenzhen Ansike Electronic Tech Co Ltd43438
Huazhong University Of Science & Technology152338
Beijing Octa Innovations Information Technology Co., Ltd.43438
Shanghai Jiaotong University82937
Jiangsu Hengbao Intelligent System Technology Co., Ltd.82937
Beijing Oracle Chain Technology Co., Ltd.152237
Beijing Peersafe Technology Co., Ltd.172037
Institute Of Information Engineering Cas162036
Jinan Inspur Hi-tech Investment Development Co., Ltd.63036
Trueseen Ltd.03535
Hangzhou Cryptape Technology Co., Ltd.122335
Zall Research Institute Of Smart Commerce (wuhan) Co., Ltd.102434
Lizhan72734
China Zheshang Bank Co Ltd72734
Aowei Information Technology (jiangsu) Co., Ltd.43034
Tianjin University03333
Liannong (shenzhen) Information Technology Co., Ltd.23133
Chengdu Stacs Technology Co., Ltd.33033
Shenzhen Zhishuilian Technology Co., Ltd.72532
Shanghai Wanxiang Blockchain Inc.03232
Visa Inc.03131
Beijing Institute Of Technology102131
Beijing Hai Tong Technology Co Ltd Emori151631
Zhong Information Technology Service Co., Ltd.92130
Shenzhen University62430
China Citic Bank Co Ltd03030
Beijing Wodong Tianjun Information Technology Co., Ltd.03030
Accenture Plc22830
Inspur Group Co., Ltd.02929
Fujitsu Limited22628
East China Normal University151328
Foshan Yisu Jusen Technology Co., Ltd.12728
Beijing Kingsoft Cloud Network Technology Co., Ltd.02828
Zhejiang Gongshang University42327
Sichuan Homwee Technology Co Ltd62127
Shanghai Gonglian Information Technology Co., Ltd.42327
Neusoft Corporation52227
Abmax Biotechnology Co Ltd91827
Beijing Kingsoft Internet Security Software Co. Ltd.72027
Union Mobile Pay Ltd141226
Shenzhen Golo Chelian Data Technology Co., Ltd.52126
Shenzhen Leiling Guangtong Technology Research And Development Co., Ltd.42226
Hangzhou Gandao Technology Co., Ltd.22426
Shenzhen Jiupin Air Purification Technology Co., Ltd.32225
Shanghai Distributed Technologies Co., Ltd.121325
Shanghai Youyang Xinmei Information Technology Co., Ltd.02525
Ping'an Consumer Finance Co., Ltd.02525
Shaanxi Medical Chain Blockchain Group Co., Ltd.32225
Institute Of Computing Technology Of The Chinese Academy Of Sciences52025
Guangzhou University42125
Foshan University81725
Beijing Haiying Institute Of Science And Technology Information32225
Beijing Tiandihexing Technology Co., Ltd.81725
Sichuan Changhong Electric Co., Ltd.61824
Panasonic Corporation02424
Jindie Software (china) Co., Ltd.32124
Innovative And Advance Technology Co., Ltd.02424
Juzix Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.71724
Gree Group Co., Ltd.91524
Beijing Insight Chain Technology Co., Ltd.51924
Zte Corporation41923
Sichuan University111223
Southeast University41923
South China University Of Technology71623
Shenzhen City Naishidi Technology Development Co. Ltd.22123
Shanghai Insurance Exchange Co., Ltd.32023
Putian City Zhuhuo Information Technology Co., Ltd.71623
Peking University71623
National University Of Defense Technology Of The Chinese People's Liberation Army41923
Hefei Dappworks Technology Co., Ltd.41923
Intel Corporation22123
Fujian University Of Technology61723
Cryptape Inc.51823
Wuxi Jingtum Network Technology Co., Ltd.31922
Shanghai Vonechain Information Technology Co., Ltd.22022
Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School91322
Migu Culture Technology Co., Ltd.51722
Northeastern University101222
Hepu Technology Development (beijing) Co., Ltd.51722
Jiangsu University22022
Hangzhou Yulan Technology Co., Ltd.12122
Hangzhou Dianzi University51722
Ford Motor Company02222
Beijing Blockchain Cloud Technology Co., Ltd.12122
State Grid Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd.61521
Hunan Tian He Guo Yun Technology Co., Ltd.02121
Hunan Smart Government Block Chain Technology Co., Ltd.21921
Anhui Lingtuyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.02121
Beijing Jd Finance Technology Holding Co., Ltd.111021
Wuhan Douyu Network Technology Co., Ltd.71320
Zhejiang Shuqin Technology Co., Ltd.51520
Shenzhen Zhongke Zhicheng Technology Co., Ltd.11920
Tianjin University Of Technology31720
Shenzhen Beiyoutong New Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd.41620
North China Electric Power University61420
Ruban Quantum Technology Co., Ltd.31720
Nanjing Jinninghui Technology Co., Ltd.51520
Hefei University Of Technology71320
Hangzhou Hyperchain Technologies Co., Ltd.71320
Guangzhou Youpu Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd.14620
China Telecom Corporation Limited11920
Chongqing Huayi Kangdao Technology Co., Ltd.41620
Xian Zhigui Internet Technology Co., Ltd.21719
Xiaomi Inc.81119
Zhongsi Boan Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.11819
Shenzhen Turing Singularity Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.91019
Shenzhen Saiante Technology Service Co., Ltd.01919
Robert Bosch Gmbh01919
Golo Iov Data Technology Co., Ltd.61319
Dalian University Of Technology81119
Beijing Bixing Technology Co., Ltd.21719
Beijing Arxan Fintech Co., Ltd.41519
Boe Technology Group Co. Ltd21719
Beijing Jingdong Zhenshi Information Technology Co., Ltd.01919
Tal Education Group61218
Nanjing University Of Science And Technology31518
Dareway Software Co., Ltd.21618
China University Of Geoscience71118
Shigengjian Data Technology (shanghai) Co., Ltd.41317
Shanghai Ceying Network Technology Co., Ltd.71017
Shanghai Heshu Software Co., Ltd.41317
Shandong University71017
Mr. Ray, Inc.01717
Nokia Corporation01717
Hefei Weitian Yuntong Information Science And Technology Co., Ltd.11617
Kunming University Of Science And Technology01717
Fulian21517
Guangdong Hongying Technology Co., Ltd.01717
Hainan Univ11617
Chengdu Sefon Software Co., Ltd.51217
China Internet Network Information Center51217
Beijing Aimo Reechain Science And Technology Co., Ltd.31417
Shenzhen Xiaokong Communication Technology Co., Ltd.11516
Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.31316
Pingan Trust Co., Ltd.01616
No. 30 Institute Of China Electronic Technology Group Corporation51116
Chengdu High-tech Information Technology Research Institute01616
Beijing Technology & Business Univ.01616
Wenzhou Tusheng Science And Technology Co., Ltd.41115
Xian University Of Posts And Telecommunications11415
Tongji University31215
Shenzhen Great China Blockchain Technology Co., Ltd.01515
Nanjing Zhongcheng Block Chain Research Institute Co., Ltd.41115
Pingan International Finance Lease Co., Ltd.01515
Nanjing Trusted Blockchain And Algorithm Economic Research Institute Co., Ltd.51015
Jingdong Digital Technology Holdings Co., Ltd.51015
Jiangsu Pay Egis Technology Co., Ltd.10515
Hangzhou Shichuang Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.21315
Guilin University Of Electronic Technology41115
Dongguan Monda Plastic-chemical Technology Co., Ltd.31215
Beijing Haopukang Technology Co., Ltd.11415
Xian Jiaotong Univ41014
Zhihuigu (xiamen) Iot Technology Co., Ltd.5914
Tcl Corporation21214
Suzhou Dajiaying Information Technology Co., Ltd.7714
Shenzhen Blockcontinent Technology Co., Ltd.11314
Shenzhen Ars(advanced River System) Technology Co., Ltd.01414
Puhua Yunchuang Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.01414
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.11314
Oracle Corporation01414
Coinplug,inc11314
Central South University41014
Changsha University Of Science And Technology11314
Beijing Feitian Technologies9514
Beijing Wuzi University7714
Xiangtan University31013
Wealedger Network Technologies Co., Ltd.21113
Zhejiang Normal Univ.5813
Xiamen Shunshi Gongshi Information Technology Co., Ltd.01313
Yinqing Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.11213
Ylz Information Technology Co., Ltd.11213
Suzhou City Xingji Yuntong Blockchain Technology Co., Ltd.01313
University Of Science And Technology Of China01313
Suzhou Tongji Blockchain Research Institute Co., Ltd.31013
Shenzhen Lvyuan Huizhi Technology Co., Ltd.4913
Shenzhen Dianlian Technology Co., Ltd.01313
Shenzhen Technology Co Ltd Blue To Di11213
Nanjing Reborn Quantum Technology Co., Ltd.21113
Microsoft Corporation21113
Qilu University Of Technology01313
Shaanxi Medicine Chain Group Co., Ltd.01313
Pinganfu Technology Service Co., Ltd.01313
Harbin Engineering University7613
Jilin University31013
Jiangsu Tongfudun Information Technology Co., Ltd.11213
Hangzhou Wopu Iot Technology Co., Ltd.31013
Guangdong Hongxin E-commerce Technology Co., Ltd.01313
Chengdu University Of Technology6713
China Merchants Group Ltd7613
China Electronic Technology Cyber Security Co., Ltd.01313
Chongqing University Of Science And Technology01313
Beijing Guorenbao Technology Co., Ltd.21113
Beijing Huitong Jincai Information Technology Co., Ltd.6713
Zhejiang University Of Technology21012
Yantai University11112
Suzhou Inspur Intelligent Software Co., Ltd.01212
Uni-ledger Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.21012
University Of Science And Technology Beijing3912
Shanghai Development Center Of Computer Software Technology01212
Shanghai Qiyin Information Technology Co Ltd01212
Shenzhen Qianhai Wealedger Network Technology Co., Ltd.11112
Nanjing University01212
National Computer Network And Information Security Management Center4812
Shandong Inspur Cloud Service Information Technology Co., Ltd.01212
Pingan Yiqianbao E-commerce Co., Ltd.01212
Quliantong Network Co., Ltd.21012
Jiangxi University Of Science And Technology4812
Harbin Institute Of Technology11112
Information And Telecommunication Branch Of State Grid Anhui Electric Power Company5712
Guangzhou Yuejian Sanhe Software Co.,ltd.11112
Guangdong Hongxin Enterprise Service Co., Ltd.01212
Guangxi University3912
Guangzhou Zhihong Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.4812
Ebaonet Healthcare Information Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.6612
China Academy Of Information And Communications Technology11112
Anhui University Of Science & Technology3912
Beijing Thinkey Technologies Co., Ltd.01212
Beijing Yuanlangchao Technology Co., Ltd.11112
Xiamen Keruisheng Technology Co., Ltd.01111
Zhengzhou Normal Univ11011
Wangsu Science & Technology Co., Ltd.5611
Zhengzhou University2911
Shimano Inc.4711
Silictec (shenzhen) Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.3811
Stringon Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.01111
Shenzhen Qianhai Huanrong Lianyi Information Technology Service Co., Ltd.01111
Shanxi Texin Huanyu Information Technology Co., Ltd.01111
Qufu Normal University3811
Shandong Daige Information Technology Co., Ltd.01111
Shandong Inspur Co Ltd01111
Linkeychain Intelligent Technology (shanghai) Co., Ltd.01111
Kunming Dabangke Technology Co., Ltd.01111
Guangzhou Yibite Blockchain Technology Co., Ltd.11011
Guangxi Normal University5611
Hangzhou Zhikuai Network Technology Co., Ltd.6511
Cssc Systems Engineering Research Institute01111
Dongyuan (beijing) Digital Technology Co., Ltd.01111
Chongqing Huihui Information Technology Co., Ltd.01111
Beijing Zhibangbang Technology Co., Ltd.11011
Agricultural Bank Of China2911
Biovoice Information Technology Co., Ltd.2911
Yangzhou University3710
Tianyi Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd.01010
Terminus Technologies, Inc.2810
Shenzhen Yilian Information System Co., Ltd.01010
Shenzhen Zhonghui Zhiti Technology Co., Ltd.5510
State Grid Block Chain Technology (beijing) Company3710
Southern University Of Science And Technology1910
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson3710
Shenzhen Fubei Technology Co., Ltd.01010
Shenzhen Buyun Technology Co., Ltd.1910
Shanghai Yuanlu Jiajia Information Science And Technology Co., Ltd.01010
Shanghai Jianshi Network Technology Co., Ltd.3710
Shenzhen Fanxi Electronics Co., Ltd.4610
Shanghai Mohe Network Technology Co., Ltd.01010
Shanghai Wurong Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.3710
Shenzhen Polytechnic3710
Meilai Network Technology (shanghai) Co., Ltd.3710
Nanjing Institute Of Technology01010
Ningbo Fuwan Information Technology Co., Ltd.1910
Nantong University01010
Ruiya Blockchain Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.01010
Quark Chain Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.2810
Sf Tech Co., Ltd.1910
Renmin University Of China01010
Jiangsu Hengwei Information Technology Co., Ltd.01010
Hohai Univ.2810
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company01010
Jiangsu Peerfintech Technology Co., Ltd.01010
Lianqi Technology (beijing) Co., Ltd.4610
Jiangsu Worldallwell Holdings Co., Ltd.1910
Guangzhou Block Zero Chain Technology Co., Ltd.01010
Fuzhou University3710
Chengdu Shangtongshidai Digital Technology Co., Ltd.01010
Ccb Fintech Co., Ltd.1910
Chongqing Xiaoyudian Small Loan Co., Ltd.4610
Dongguan Dayi Industry Chain Service Co., Ltd.2810
Chengdu Lingguang Quantum Technology Co Ltd01010
Chongqing Jinvovo Network Technology Co., Ltd.1910
Dell Technologies Inc.01010
China University Of Petroleum3710
Beijing Jiaotong University3710
Beijing Tus Data Asset Technology Development Co., Ltd.1910
Beijing Tianyi Science Trade Co3710

 

In Korea the top five companies patenting in the blockchain space include Bizmodeline, Alibaba, Coinplug, Nchain, and Samsung.  Though Bizmodeline has the most blockchain patent applications in Korea, 100% of their applications are still pending, whereas for Alibaba and Coinplug more than half of their applications have already patented.  Below is a chart of the top companies in the blockchain patent space in Korea.

 

Top Companies in Korean Blockchain Patents & Pending Applications - 2021

CompanyKorean PatentsKorean Pending ApplicationsGrand Total
Bizmodeline Co Ltd0320320
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd10984193
Coinplug,inc10341144
Nchain Holdings Limited49599
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.25759
Kt Corporation114758
Netmarble Corporation322456
Gold Exchange05050
Keb Hana Bank04747
Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute64046
Metaps Plus Inc.44044
Infobank Corp.03838
Chung-ang University42327
Sogang University Research & Business Development Foundation131225
Lbxc Co., Ltd.02525
Tencent Holdings Ltd22224
Dcun Corporation02424
Dongguk University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation13619
Sk Telecom Co., Ltd.61117
Kepco Kdn Co Ltd15217
Moneybreak LLC9817
Baas11617
Cooperation Foundation Inje University Industry-academic13417
All It Top Co., Ltd.14317
Hyundai Motor Company7916
Nhn Corporation11415
Smartmd9514
Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology10414
Baidu, Inc.11314
Leadpoint01313
Indexmine. Inc.01313
Foundation Of Soongsil University-industry Cooperation10313
Iconloop Inc.9312
Korea Minting Security Printing & Id Card Operating Corp9312
Yonsei University7411
Sony Corporation2911
Korea University7411
Korea Information Security Management Institute11011
Hanyang University6511
Soonchunhyang University7310
Way2bit Co. Ltd.459
The Industry & Academic Cooperation In Chungnam National University Iac549
Quantum Gate Inc.459
Medibloc Co., Ltd.459
Ajou University459
Alphabrothers Co., Ltd.909
Buzz Beyond Co., Ltd.099
Ubivelox Inc.808
Postech Research And Business Development Foundati538
Sbenc Co., Ltd.808
Lsware Inc358
Misotree Co., Ltd.808
Kyung Hee University628
Digitalzone Co., Ltd.628
Ewha University-industry Collaboration Foundation718
Certon Systems Gmbh268
Cheju National University Industry-academic Cooperation Foundation628
Sangmyung University Council For Industry Academic Cooperation527
Sogang University Corp.707
Swempire617
Siemens Ag257
Kasa Ltd.527
Kit Co., Ltd.347
Korea University Research And Business Foundation, Sejong Campus527
Koreamapilgeoraeso Co., Ltd.437
Markany Inc617
Hancom With Inc.437
Enterlaw Corporation527
Blockchain Inc.437
Alipay.com Co., Ltd167
Blockchain Asics, Inc.077
Eduhash Global Partners Co., Ltd.167
Peoplecarsharing Co., Ltd.156
Vtw Co., Ltd.336
Team Blackbird Co., Ltd.606
Omnicom Group Inc.516
Gwangju Institute Of Science And Technology246
Hoyun516
Mofas Co., Ltd.606
Kumoh National Institute Of Technology426
Nexon Co., Ltd.066
Lg Electronics Inc.336
Ksign Co., Ltd.516
Korea Federation Of Savings Banks336
Dunamu Inc.066
Cubesystem Co., Ltd.156
Green It606
Shinhwa Co505
Visa Inc.055
Unihublab Corp.145
Nuri Telecom Co., Ltd.145
Quber Co., Ltd.235
Sf Blockchain Co., Ltd.325
University-industry Cooperation Group Of Kyung Hee235
Korea Electric Power Corporation325
Konkuk University325
Guhada Co., Ltd.325
Hansung University Industry University Cooperation Foundation325
Kakao Corporation415
Industry-university Cooperation Foundation Hankuk325
Hfr, Inc.505
Korea Institute Of Science And Technology415
Korea Electronics Technology Institute325
Dna505
General Electric Company055
Dongseo Technology Headquters325
Anifan Co., Ltd.325
Comin Information System Inc.325

 

At the EPO in Europe, the top five companies patenting in the blockchain space include Advanced New Technologies, Nchain, Siemens, Accenture, and Nokia.  Below is a chart of the top companies in the blockchain patent space at the EPO.

 

Top Companies in European (EPO) Blockchain Patents & Pending Applications - 2021

CompanyEPO PatentsEPO Pending ApplicationsGrand Total
Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd.79294373
Nchain Holdings Limited27153180
Siemens Ag2379102
Accenture Plc162945
Nokia Corporation103343
Alipay.com Co., Ltd04040
Visa Inc.43539
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson32730
Mastercard Incorporated72330
Nec Corporation52328
Sony Group Corporation12627
The Government Of Germany91827
Microsoft Corporation32225
Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.12324
Fujitsu Limited41822
Innogy Se91019
Panasonic Corporation21517
Deutsche Telekom Ag61117
Bt Group Plc51217
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.01313
Tzero Ip, LLC01313
Baidu, Inc.01313
International Business Machines Corp.01313
Tencent Holdings Ltd01212
Sony Corporation01212
Intel Corporation11112
Coinplug,inc21012
Jpmorgan Chase & Co.01212
Oracle Corporation11011
Honeywell International Inc.01111
Thales Sa3710
Cisco Systems, Inc.2810
General Electric Company01010
Siemens Energy Ag099
Myomega Systems Gmbh099
Atos Se279
The Boeing Company268
Merck Kgaa178
Sap Se268
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company178
Bitflyer Blockchain, Inc.088
Robert Bosch Gmbh077
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.257
Digital Asset (switzerland) Gmbh167
Commissariat ? L'?nergie Atomique Et Aux ?nergies Alternatives347
Launch Tech Company Limited066
Motorola Solutions Inc066
Northern Trust Corporation246
Tata Sons Ltd066
Porsche Automobil Holding Se246
Hitachi, Ltd.066
Blockchain Asics, Inc.066
Cme Group Inc.156
Itext Group Nv426
Shimadzu Corporation415
Swirlds, Inc.235
Vechain Global Technology S.ar.l.055
Telefonica S.a.145
Salesforce.com, Inc.055
Royal Bank Of Canada145
Abb Ltd055
Cloudminds (shenzhen) Holdings Co., Ltd.235
3m Company055
Barclays Execution Services Limited055
Financial And Risk Organisation Limited055

 

In this analysis, Harrity Analytics has also included the ability to view company portfolios side-by-side and visualize the overlap in their CPC classifications. This may give some insight into the industries in which companies are choosing to patent blockchain technology.  As an example, the chart below shows a comparison of the top classifications for IBM and Advanced New Technologies.  There is overlap between the two portfolios, but you can also see that IBM has patents in inventory / stock management technology, whereas Advanced New Technologies does not seem to be patenting in that area.  Interestingly, Advanced New Technologies is patenting very heavily in the exchange (e.g., stocks, commodities, derivatives) area, whereas, IBM has not been patenting as heavily on a comparative basis.

 

IBM vs. Advanced New Technologies - Blockchain Competitive Analysis / Gap Analysis - 2021

Blockchain by CPC Technology ClassificationIBMAdvanced New Technologies
H04L9/3239 - Involving Non-Keyed Hash Functions, E.G. Modification Detection Codes [Mdcs], Md5, Sha Or Ripemd6995
G06F21/64 - Protecting Data Integrity, E.G. Using Checksums, Certificates Or Signatures68153
G06F21/602 - Providing Cryptographic Facilities Or Services3684
G06F21/6218 - To A System Of Files Or Objects, E.G. Local Or Distributed File System Or Database3523
G06Q20/02 - Involving A Neutral Party, E.G. Certification Authority, Notary Or Trusted Third Party [Ttp]2728
G06Q20/065 - Using E-Cash2646
G06F16/27 - Replication, Distribution Or Synchronisation Of Data Between Databases Or Within A Distributed Database System; Distributed Database System Architectures Therefor1727
G06F21/6245 - Protecting Personal Data, E.G. For Financial Or Medical Purposes1629
G06Q10/087 - Inventory Or Stock Management, E.G. Order Filling, Procurement, Balancing Against Orders130
G06Q40/04 - Exchange, E.G. Stocks, Commodities, Derivatives Or Currency Exchange13142
G06F16/9024 - Graphs; Linked Lists124
G06F21/32 - Using Biometric Data, E.G. Fingerprints, Iris Scans Or Voiceprints1111
G06F21/10 - Protecting Distributed Programs Or Content, E.G. Vending Or Licensing Of Copyrighted Material1024
G06F21/33 - Using Certificates90
G06F21/6227 - Where Protection Concerns The Structure Of Data, E.G. Records, Types, Queries99
G06Q10/10 - Office Automation, E.G. Computer Aided Management Of Electronic Mail Or Groupware811
G06F21/645 - Using A Third Party810
G06Q2220/00 - Business Processing Using Cryptography76
G06F16/2365 - Ensuring Data Consistency And Integrity74
G06N5/022 - Knowledge Engineering; Knowledge Acquisition70

 

CONCLUSION

The Blockchain Technology Titans 2021 Report shows that there has been significant growth in patenting blockchain technology all over the world. The growth in blockchain technology patenting points to the significant investment that is being made by companies and institutions in research and development (R&D) of this emerging technology area.  It will be exciting to see what happens in the blockchain space over the coming years.

—

To learn more about how Harrity Patent Analytics can help you find insights into the patent world, contact us via email HERE.

Perfecting Your Prosecution Strategy with Patentprufer

Firm News, Patent Analytics, Team , , , , ,

Eli Mazour leads Harrity’s patent prosecution team, developing and implementing best practices for managing workflow and creating innovative, data-driven patent prosecution strategies which allow him to reach favorable results at the USPTO. Eli has been using Patentprufer, the world’s first community-based examiner analytics tool, since its inception to help him reach agreements with USPTO patent examiners for our clients most important applications.

In “Perfecting Your Prosecution Strategy with Patentprufer”, Eli demonstrates some of the most valuable features of this tool and shows how to efficiently use examiner analytics in your patent prosecution strategy.

You can watch the full webinar below.

 

Register for Patentprufer, the world’s first community-based USPTO examiner decision-making tool, for free through the end of the year. Visit patentprufer.com to get started!

Harrity Analytics Provides Patent Data on Medical Diagnostics for IAM

Firm News, Patent Analytics , , , ,

Harrity Analytics provides patent data relating to medical diagnostics for IAM to gain an understanding of how Mayo vs Prometheus has impacted applications and grants.

“Analysis of patent data hints that the Supreme Court’s Mayo decision may not have had a big impact on medical diagnostics patenting rates, but change in filing behaviours could be delayed…”

Read the full article by Bridget Diakun here. 

Looking for specific patent data? Harrity Analytics is available for custom projects! Click here to get started.

 

Using Analytics for Patent Portfolio Gap Analysis & Maintenance Fee Strategy

Firm News, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , ,

Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics for Harrity & Harrity, shows how to use patent prosecution data found in the interactive Patent 300® Dashboard for gap analysis & maintenance fee strategy to reach your business goals.

 

“The data contained in the Patent 300® Dashboard provides invaluable information to companies, in-house counsel and law firms because it identifies the key players in design innovation and summarizes what is happening today in the patent world.”

You can access the full Patent 300® Dashboard here. 

 

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

Harrity Patent Analytics Releases The 2021 Design Patent 100 List

Firm News, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics ,

HARRITY PATENT ANALYTICS RELEASES THE 2021 DESIGN PATENT 100 LIST

List ranks top 100 companies, organizations, and universities in the design patent field

WASHINGTON (March 3, 2021) – Harrity Patent Analytics today released the publication of its inaugural Design Patent 100 List.  The list ranks the top 100 companies, organizations and universities in the patent field based on the total number of U.S. design patents.  The top 10 from the Design Patent 100 List includes:

  1. Nike (691)
  2. Samsung (589)
  3. Apple (361)
  4. LG (327)
  5. Alphabet (267)
  6. Ford (222)
  7. Tata Sons (202)
  8. Spigen (176)
  9. P&G (150)
  10. Porsche (135)

For detailed analytics on the Design Patent 100, visit Harrity’s Patent 300® Dashboard, the intellectual property industry’s premier resource for patent insights and competitive intelligence on the world’s leaders in technology and design innovation.  The Dashboard contains analytics on more than 6,000,000 patents, including patent portfolio analyses, detailed patent prosecution insights, technology area breakdowns, and portfolio cost and budget analytics.

“The Design Patent 100 List identifies the global innovation leaders obtaining design patents in the United States,” said Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics for Harrity & Harrity. “The data contained in the Patent 300® Dashboard, such as the Design Patent 100 List, provides invaluable information to companies, in-house counsel and law firms because it identifies the key players in design innovation and summarizes what is happening today in the patent world.”

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

IAM Covers the 2020 Top Patent Firms List by Harrity Analytics

Firm News, Patent Analytics , ,

(January 22, 2021) IAM Media highlights the top patent prosecution firms in the U.S. in the last year using data from the 2020 Top Patent Firms List. The list, produced by the Harrity Patent Analytics Team, ranks firms based on the total number of US utility patents that issued in 2020 where the patent firms were listed on the front of the utility patents. The rankings include both law firms and in-house filing operations.

The article, by Bridget Diakun, covers annual data on the most active US patent prosecution firms and reveals which secured the most grants for clients, as well the year’s biggest movers. Read the full article here. 

 

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

Patent 300 Competitive Intelligence & Patent Practice Decision Making

Patent Analytics In Action – Using The Patent 300® Dashboard

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics ,

Patent Analytics In Action – Using The Patent 300® Dashboard

January 19, 2021 – Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics at Harrity, gave a webinar on how companies and law firms can use the Patent 300® Dashboard to understand their own portfolio, their competitors, and the patent field in general.  A video of the entire webinar can be found below.

The demonstration included a deep dive into how to analyze the technology breakdown for a company’s patent portfolio, and how to benchmark patent prosecution statistics across companies patenting in the same technology areas.  Rocky demonstrated how companies and law firms can use the “Company By Law Firm” report to benchmark the patent practice efficiency of the outside counsel that are prosecuting the patent applications for a company.

The webinar then transitioned to a cost-based analytics report called the “Company by Costs”, which gives users the ability to customize the analysis by selecting their own outside counsel fees.  The report provides users with an “Average Cost Per Patent” value by law firm, that users can use to benchmark outside counsel performance, and identify areas within the practice to reduce cost and practice more efficiently.

The “Gap Analysis” demonstration showed how easy it can be to compare the patent portfolios of two companies with the click of a button.  In-house counsel use this report to easily visualize two portfolios side by side and identify whitespaces and portfolio overlap.

The webinar then transitioned to how law firms can use the dashboard for law firm client development and new client business development.  Using the “Law Firm by Client” report, law firms can visualize all of their patent prosecution statistics for a given client to identify strengths and weaknesses that can be used to promote their firm’s services to their clients and to make modifications to their current practice to deliver better services.

For detailed analytics on the patent field, Harrity Patent Analytics makes available the Patent 300® Dashboard, the intellectual property industry’s premier resource for patent insights and competitive intelligence on the world’s leaders in technology.  It contains analytics on more than 6,000,000 patents, including patent portfolio analyses, detailed patent prosecution insights, technology area breakdowns, and portfolio cost and budget analytics.

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

Patent 300 Harrity Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics Releases The 2021 Patent 300® List

Firm News, Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics ,

HARRITY PATENT ANALYTICS RELEASES THE 2021 PATENT 300® LIST

List ranks top 300 companies, organizations, and universities in the patent field

WASHINGTON (January 15, 2021) – Harrity Patent Analytics today released the publication of its inaugural Patent 300® List.  The list ranks the top 300 companies, organizations and universities in the patent field based on the total number of U.S. utility patents.  The top 10 from the Patent 300® List includes:

  1. IBM (9435)
  2. Samsung (8539)
  3. LG Corporation (5112)
  4. Canon (3689)
  5. Intel (3284)
  6. Raytheon Technologies (3213)
  7. Huawei (3178)
  8. Microsoft (2972)
  9. TSMC (2892)
  10. Sony (2886)

For detailed analytics on the Patent 300®, Harrity Patent Analytics makes available the Patent 300® Dashboard, the intellectual property industry’s premier resource for patent insights and competitive intelligence on the world’s leaders in technology.  It contains analytics on more than 6,000,000 patents, including patent portfolio analyses, detailed patent prosecution insights, technology area breakdowns, and portfolio cost and budget analytics.

The Patent 300® Dashboard provides in-house counsel, law firm partners, and c-suite executives with a detailed analysis of the world’s technology leaders, ranging from technology giants such as IBM (ranked #1) and Samsung (ranked #2), to leading universities such as MIT (ranked #106) and Johns Hopkins University (ranked #232), to newcomers including Palantir (ranked #248) and Techtronic Industries (ranked #278).  The list represents 54 percent of the more than 350,000 U.S. patents issued in 2020.

“The Patent 300® List identifies the global technology leaders obtaining patents in the United States,” said Rocky Berndsen, Head of Analytics for Harrity & Harrity. “The data contained in the Patent 300® Dashboard is invaluable information to companies, in-house counsel and law firms because it identifies the key players and summarizes what is happening today in the patent world.”

A ranking of the top 300 companies, organizations and universities can be found here.

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

Law360: This Firm Secured The Most Utility Patents Again In 2020

Firm News, Patent Analytics , , ,

Law360 (January 15, 2021, 11:34 PM EST) — One law firm has scored over 350 more utility patents in 2020 than the next closest firm, marking the sixth consecutive year it has landed the No. 1 spot in the latest ranking of law firms…

“You can see which patent firms are making big moves up and down in our field,” Harrity’s head of patent analytics, Rocky Berndsen, said in a statement. “The impact of a firm merger or one or more partners leaving a firm can be seen in the data. Law firms and companies are using the prosecution data from last year’s patents to make strategic decisions in their practice.”

Read the full article on the Top Patent Firms of 2020, by Dave Simpson, on Law360.

The 2020 Top Patent Firms List, produced by the Harrity Patent Analytics Team, ranks firms based on the total number of US utility patents that issued in 2020 where the patent firms were listed on the front of the utility patents. The rankings include both law firms and in-house filing operations.

 

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300® companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

Harrity’s Rocky Berndsen Recognized in IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists Annual Listing

Firm News, Team , , , , , ,

Harrity’s Rocky Berndsen has been recognized in the IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists, an annual listing of individuals who lead the way in the development and implementation of world-class programs that maximize the value of intellectual property portfolios.

According to IAM Media, the strategists identified in this guide do not see issues from just one perspective; instead, they see value creation in the round. It is this 360-degree perspective, combined with a demonstrable ability to deliver, which makes them stand out from the crowd.

Rocky’s innovation and leadership in the area of patent analytics and IP business strategy development contributed to his nomination on this global listing of the IP elite. Congratulations, Rocky!

About the IAM Strategy 300 Nominations

(Source: IAM Media)

These world-class IP strategists are primarily identified through confidential nominations made online. However, the extensive research process also involves face-to-face and telephone interviews, as well as email exchanges, with senior members of the global IP community.

No individual can qualify for a listing in the IAM Strategy 300 unless he or she is nominated by at least three people from outside of his or her own organization. But even this does not guarantee inclusion; instead, only those individuals who further research shows to have exceptional skill sets, as well as profound insights into the development, creation and management of IP value, are featured in the IAM Strategy 300.

For this latest edition of the guide, IAM started the research process from scratch; so even those who had previously been listed had to meet the same selection criteria as those who are new to the guide this year. Once a person received the minimum three recommendations from outside his or her own organization, IAM undertook their own independent research to assess these claims.

Most nominees did not make it through the vetting process; those who did are listed in the following pages. The selection procedure is always strictly applied because our overarching aim is to ensure that only those individuals who possess exceptional skill sets – as well as profound insights into the development, creation and management of IP value – are featured in the IAM Strategy 300.

“We cannot promise that every IP strategist who deserves to be described as world class has made it into this publication. But we are certain that everyone who is listed deserves to be.”

About Harrity & Harrity, LLP

Harrity & Harrity is a leading patent preparation and prosecution firm specializing in the electrical and mechanical technology areas, and is considered a Go-To Firm for the Patent 300™.  Their clients trust in their high-quality work, experienced people, industry leading innovation, and outstanding service.

 

Average Claims and Figures

Visualizing Patent Claims and Figures Over Time

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , , , , ,
How have the number of patent claims and patent figures changed over time?

Let’s let the numbers speak for themselves.  I recommend that you use the full screen mode for this visualization.  Click on the full screen icon on the right.

The interactive visualization above provides a clear indication that at a high level for US utility patents, the average number of claims have gone down over time, while the average number of figures have gone up.  In 2005, the average number of claims per patent was 18.83, while the average number of figures was 12.04.  Compare that to 2019, where the average number of claims per patent was 16.22, and the average number of figures was 14.84.

The reasons for these changes are open to interpretation but the data shows some very interesting outliers to the averages when you slice the data by art unit.  For example, when you look at the business method art units of 3621-3629, the data shows the exact opposite from the entire patent field as a whole.  In 2006, the average number of claims per patent was 24.83, and the average number of figures was 17.00.

The xml data powering the Power BI visualization above is automatically downloaded weekly by our patent analytics system from the USPTO using the Bulk Data Storage System.

To learn more about how you can use patent analytics to inform your practice, visit our Patent Analytics website HERE.

 

This week in Amazon Patents – 4/21/2020

Patent Analytics , ,

Amazon innovates in a wide range of technology areas including e-commerce, logistics, uavs, robotics, networking, cybersecurity, cloud technology and more.  This week, I review the patents obtained by Amazon and summarize the technology areas covered by their patents, as well as, highlight one or two interesting technologies.

Weekly Summary

Amazon obtained 43 US utility patents and 3 US design patents.  Networking technology is the largest area with 9 patents, followed by virtual machines with 3.  There are several patents in the areas of uav/robot delivery and warehouse robots.  See table for a summary of the technologies where Amazon obtained patents.

Interesting Patent

One interesting patent this week is patent 10,628,790 titled “Automated floor expansion using an unmanned fiducial marker placement unit”.  This invention describes how an unmanned robot can expand the floor of a warehouse by placing fiducial markers on the floor instead of a human being having to place the markers on the floor.

Amazon continues to innovate by introducing automation and unmanned robots throughout the inventory management and logistics.

For more information about any of these technology areas or for a patent analysis on Amazon’s patent portfolio, please reach out to me via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Semiconductors and Memory Ranks as the #1 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

As shown in Chart 1, the Semiconductors and Memory technology area ranked highest in 2019.  There were 15,841 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the US.  Semiconductors and Memory technology covers multiple United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications.

Included are processes for manufacturing semiconductors and solid-state devices.  Also included are processes and apparatus for addressing, accessing and controlling, and forming memory addresses in a computer or digital data processing system.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

The top 20 companies in the Semiconductors and Memory area, shown below in Chart 2, include Taiwan Semiconductor (#1), Samsung Electronics (#2), International Business Machines (#3), Micron Technology (#4), and others.  Taiwan Semiconductor again tops the list having obtained 1,807 US patents.  Samsung had 1,592 US patents, up 5% from 2018.  IBM, at 1,364, was up 3% from 2018.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are chip makers, device makers, and various electronics companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Semiconductors and Memory

RankPatent 300®2019 Semiconductor and Memory Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Semiconductor and Memory PatentsChange from 2018 Patents
1Taiwan Semiconductor180777%1972-8%
2Samsung Electronics159218%15225%
3International Business Machines136414%13183%
4Micron Technology86468%64534%
5Mubadala Investment55472%593-7%
6BOE Technology Group50423%38730%
7Intel47113%37725%
8SK Hynix44255%468-6%
9Toshiba Memory42759%4192%
10Infineon Technologies34340%392-13%
11Semiconductor Energy Lab32146%478-33%
12United Microelectronics31389%318-2%
13LG Display27131%22421%
14Renesas Electronics26650%320-17%
15Western Digital26536%21523%
16China Star Optoelectronics23535%54600%
17STMicroelectronics22430%249-10%
18Sony2018%1972%
19SMIC19884%13349%
20Osram Licht19450%14237%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

Electrical Circuits and Systems Ranks as the #2 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

Chart 1 shows the Electrical Circuits and Systems technology area ranked 2nd largest in 2019, with 14,269 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the US.  Electrical Circuits and Systems technology covers multiple United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications.

Included are electrical systems and devices, covering a broad spectrum of electrical and electromagnetic systems, devices, and circuitry, as well as electrical connectors.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

The top 20 companies in the Electrical Circuits and Systems area, shown in Chart 2, include Murata Manufacturing (#1), Samsung Electronics (#2), Mitsubishi Electric (#3), Sumitomo Electric (#4), and others.  Murata again tops the list having obtained 571 US patents, up 25% from 2018.  Samsung had 529 US patents, up 16% from last year.  Mitsubishi Electric, at 358, was up 6% from 2018.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are device makers, chip makers, and auto makers, and various manufacturing companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Electrical Circuits and Systems

RankPatent 300®2019 Electrical Circuits and Systems Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Electrical Circuits and Systems PatentsChange from 2018 Patents
1Murata Manufacturing57161%45725%
2Samsung Electronics5296%45616%
3Mitsubishi Electric35827%3376%
4Sumitomo Electric34951%22654%
5Texas Instruments30934%21146%
6Intel2818%283-1%
7Apple27611%278-1%
8Panasonic27413%280-2%
9General Electric2589%285-9%
10Samsung Electro-Mechanics25767%21420%
11Yazaki24164%2381%
12TE Connectivity23874%20814%
13Toyota2379%246-4%
14Siemens22314%2097%
15Denso22018%226-3%
15International Business Machines2202%249-12%
17United Technologies2148%16430%
18Infineon Technologies21225%221-4%
19Eaton20945%18414%
20Hitachi19513%1808%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

Multiplex and VoIP Ranks as the #3 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

Chart 1 shows the Multiplex and VoIP technology area ranked 3rd largest in 2019, with 10,824 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the US.  Multiplex and VoIP technology covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to simultaneous transmission of two or more information signals in either or both directions over the same transmission medium.  Transmission in this manner allows discrete recovery of information signals.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

The top 20 companies in the Multiplex and VoIP area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include Huawei (#1), LG Electronics (#2), Ericsson (#3), Qualcomm (#4), and others.  A 39% increase from 2018 propelled Huawei to the top of the list this year with 1,226 US patents.  LG Electronics had a 26% increase over 2018 at 1,123 US patents.  Ericsson, at 878, was up 18% from 2018.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are device makers, chip makers, and telecommunications companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Multiplex and VoIP

RankPatent 300®2019 Multiplex and VoIP Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Multiplex and VoIP PatentsChange from 2018 Patents
1Huawei122642%88239%
2LG Electronics112340%89426%
3Ericsson87854%74718%
4Qualcomm83335%71916%
5Samsung Electronics6898%61113%
6Intel50214%542-7%
7Cisco Systems37836%30424%
8Nokia30534%3031%
9AT&T27519%24015%
10Sony27310%20136%
11NEC21822%17922%
12Apple2018%1877%
13ZTE17141%181-6%
14International Business Machines1602%209-23%
15Hewlett Packard Enterprise14818%8574%
16Dell1466%163-10%
17Sharp13916%12214%
18Juniper Networks13746%1324%
18Softbank13722%212-35%
20Fujitsu13410%173-23%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

Printing or Measuring and Testing Ranks as the #4 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

Chart 1 shows the Printing or Measuring, and Testing technology area ranked 4th largest in 2019.  There were 10,383 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the US.  Printing or Measuring and Testing cover United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to Printing and Measuring Technology, respectively.

Printing patents include means adapted to produce characters or designs on surfaces by the impression of types or dies.  Also included is applying coating material through the openings of a covering pattern sheet, such as stenciling.  Printing patents also cover impression from graphic or intaglio surfaces.  These patents include organizations using a design or character dies that emboss, burn, or perforate, and that apply ink.

Measuring and Testing is the generic class for processes and apparatus for measuring of any kind or for any testing.  It includes all subjects not provided for in other classes.  The term “test” includes inspection, processes, and apparatus for examination or review not covered by other classes.  This class is the generic class for sampling and consists of all sampling apparatus and processes not otherwise classified.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

The top 20 companies in the Printing or Measuring and Testing area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include Canon (#1), Seiko Epson (#2), Brother (#3), Siemens (#4), and others.  Canon tops the list having obtained 1,009 US patents, up 20% from 2018.  Seiko Epson had 493 US patents, a 1% decrease from last year.  Brother Industries, at 462, was up 31% from 2018.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are device makers and software producers, auto makers, and electronics companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Printing or Measuring and Testing

RankPatent 300®2019 Printing/Measuring and Testing Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Printing/Measuring and Testing PatentsChange from 2018 Patents
1Canon100925%84320%
2Seiko Epson49337%496-1%
3Brother Industries46259%35331%
4Siemens34621%26630%
5HP Inc.33635%3108%
6International Business Machines2733%23914%
7General Electric2589%21222%
8Samsung Electronics2443%18730%
9Kyocera24122%273-12%
10Toshiba23616%263-10%
11Ricoh Company23223%292-21%
12Halliburton22520%12481%
13Konica Minolta20531%17418%
14Fujifilm18614%193-4%
14Schlumberger18622%88111%
16Robert Bosch13811%165-16%
17Cadence Design Systems13569%55145%
18Honeywell13010%7086%
19Hitachi1238%1148%
20Intel1223%7954%

Printing or Measuring and Testing is an important technology area in the patent world with over 10,000 US patents in 2019 alone.  Printing or Measuring and Testing technology affects companies in many industries around the globe.  For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

Optics Ranks as the #5 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

Chart 1 shows the Optics technology area ranked the 5th largest in 2019.  There were 9,830 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the US.  Optics covers the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications for apparatus and corresponding processes used for storing and retrieving optical or magneto-optical information.  The basis of the technology is relative movement between an optical storage carrier or medium and a transducer along a continuous path.

The class includes apparatus and corresponding processes for making copies or editing optical records, falling within the above definition.  It includes the transfer medium having a specific information storage structure.  The scope of the Optics technology class overlaps with other classes and subclasses.  It is an integral part of the class of patents covering Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

The top 20 companies in the Optics area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include Samsung Electronics (#1), BOE Technology (#2), Canon (#3), ASML Holdings (#4), and others.  Samsung tops the list having obtained 665 US patents, a 1% decrease from 2018.  BOE Technology had 436 US patents, a 34% increase from 2018.  Canon, at 406, was up 11% from 2018.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Optics

RankPatent 300®2019 Optics Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Optics PatentsChange from 2018 Patents
1Samsung Electronics6658%672-1%
2BOE Technology Group43620%32634%
3Canon40610%36611%
4ASML Holdings27787%21628%
5Japan Display22533%19814%
6Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung20857%246-15%
7Panasonic20110%2010%
8Corning18333%13635%
9Fujifilm18213%14724%
10Hitachi16611%12434%
11Commscope16329%11542%
12Nikon15456%1503%
13Sony1435%12217%
14Seiko Epson13910%184-24%
15LG Display13816%11817%
16International Business Machines1281%1262%
17TCL12321%248-50%
17Valeo12330%7466%
19AAC Technologies12253%47160%
19Sharp12214%9824%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

Selective Visual Display Systems Ranks as the #6 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

Chart 1 shows the Selective Visual Display Systems technology area ranked 6th largest in 2019.  Selective Visual Display Systems covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to processes and apparatus for selective, electrical control of two or more light-generating or light-controlling display elements.  Processes and devices under these classifications use received or stored image data signal.  The image data includes character, graphical information, or display attribute data.  Image data sources may consist of peripheral input devices, television signals, image data recognition, or computers.

This class also includes digital data processing systems or methods for visual presentation.  Data processing consists of the creation or manipulation of graphic objects (e.g., artificial images), or text.  The class includes telegraphy subclasses for digitizing writing tablets, styluses, and circuits.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

The top 20 companies in the Selective Visual Display Systems area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include Samsung Electronics (#1), BOE Technology Group (#2), Canon (#3), Sony (#4), and others.  Samsung tops the list having obtained 1108 US patents, up 22% from 2018.  BOE Technology had a 27% increase from 2018 at 612 US patents.  Newcomer to the Patent 300®, China Star Optoelectronics, at 240 patents, was up 11900% from 2018.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are device manufacturers, software, and media companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Selective Visual Display Systems

RankPatent 300®2019 Selective Visual Display Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Selective Visual Display PatentsChange from 2018 Patents
1Samsung Electronics110813%90922%
2BOE Technology Group61228%48127%
3Canon45011%43947%
4Sony42816%184133%
5Apple34214%25833%
6LG Display34139%24141%
7Japan Display29343%21536%
8China Star Optoelectronics24035%211900%
9Microsoft2016%15431%
10TCL17730%308-43%
11LG Electronics1285%9239%
12Alphabet1195%7070%
13Facebook1149%51124%
14Semiconductor Energy Lab11316%9420%
15Sharp11113%8925%
16Seiko Epson1068%9610%
17Olympus10014%42400%
17Panasonic1005%8025%
19Tianma Microelectronics9753%6159%
20Synaptics8556%116-27%

Selective Visual Display Systems is an important technology area in the patent world with over 7,338 US patents in 2019 alone.  Selective Visual Display Systems technology affects companies in many industries around the globe.  For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/. 

Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems Ranks as the #7 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

Chart 1 shows Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems ranked as the 7th largest technology area in 2019, with 5,951 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the US. Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems covers several United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications.

Motive Power Systems are systems of electrical supply and/or of control for one or more electric motors.  Electrical Systems and Devices, Power Supply or Regulation Systems, Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches, are among the many possible classifications related to this technology area.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

The top 20 companies in the Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems area are shown in Chart 2.  United Technologies (#1), General Electric (#2), Ford (#3), and  Toyota (#4) each retain their respective positions on the list from the previous year.  United Technologies tops the list with 1078 US patents, up 19% from 2018.  General Electric had a 22% increase over 2018 at 702 US patents.  Ford, at 431, was down 7% from 2018.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the manufacturing, transportation, and technology sectors.  Included are automakers and supporting companies, tech companies, and other manufacturers.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems

RankPatent 300®2019 Thermal & Combustion Technology Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Thermal & Combustion Technology PatentsChange from 2018 Patents
1United Technologies107839%90619%
2General Electric70224%57422%
3Ford43117%462-7%
4Toyota36714%407-10%
5Rolls-Royce32855%21652%
6General Motors22516%2260%
7Safran21540%224-4%
8Hyundai Motor18712%251-25%
9Mitsubishi Heavy Industries15434%13812%
10Siemens1429%185-23%
11Denso12510%215-42%
12Robert Bosch12110%171-29%
13Continental11823%9623%
14Hitachi1157%8142%
15Caterpillar11322%140-19%
16Honda Motor10710%8723%
17Cummins9050%847%
18Borgwarner7741%91-15%
18Porsche7711%6028%
20Mazda Motor7337%713%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

Computer Networks Ranks as the #8 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

As shown in Chart 1, the Computer Networks technology area was the 8th largest technology area in 2019 with over 5,753 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the U.S.  The Computer Networks technology area covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to electrical computer or digital data processing system or corresponding data processing method including apparatus or steps for transferring data or instruction information between a plurality of computers wherein the computers employ the data or instructions before or after transferring and the employing affects said transfer of data or instruction information.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

When you look at the top companies obtaining patents in the Computer Networks technology area, shown in Chart 2, large global technology companies, such as IBM (#1), Microsoft (#2), Dell (#3), and Amazon (#4), are heavily represented in the data.  IBM maintains its #1 position on the list, having obtained 777 U.S. patents in the Computer Networks technology area, despite a 13% decrease from 2018.  8% of IBM’s U.S. patents obtained in 2019 are classified in the Computer Networks technology area.  Facebook (#5) has the largest year over year increase in Computer Networks patents at 63%, while Samsung Electronics (#10) had the second largest decrease at -12%.  While the companies in the top 20 are all large global technology companies, they cover a range of industries including enterprise IT, social media, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and more.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Computer Networks

RankPatent 300®2019 Computer Networks Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Computer Networks PatentsChange from 2018
1International Business Machines7778%892-13%
2Microsoft38312%27141%
3Dell37315%27635%
4Amazon35914%30717%
5Facebook21917%13463%
6Alphabet2098%211-1%
7Cisco Systems20720%15633%
8Huawei1646%10753%
9AT&T16111%10750%
10Samsung Electronics1352%153-12%
11Oracle12414%1185%
12Verizon11117%10011%
13Tencent Holdings10122%7142%
14Ericsson946%7919%
15Intel852%6237%
16Fujitsu625%4538%
17Sony592%590%
18Hewlett Packard Enterprise567%4719%
19Apple552%4134%
20Canon531%4323%

Computer Networks is an important technology area in the patent world with over 5,700 U.S. patents in 2019 alone.  Computer Networks technology impacts companies in various industries around the world.  For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

Cryptography and Security Ranks as the #9 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies.

As shown in Chart 1, the Cryptography and Security technology area was the 9th largest technology area in 2019 with 5,016 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the U.S.  The Cryptography and Security technology area covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to secure communications and information security.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%

Many of the top 20 companies obtaining patents in the Cryptography and Security technology area, as shown in Chart 2, are large technology companies such as IBM (#1), Amazon (#2), Microsoft (#3), and Dell (#4).  IBM maintains its strong lead in the list having obtained 636 U.S. patents in the Cryptography and Security technology area, despite a 2% decrease from 2018.  Capital One (#11) is on the move in the Cryptography and Security technology space with 97 patents in 2019, a 646% increase from 2018.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Cryptography and Security

RankPatent 300®2019 Cryptography Patents% of Company's 2019 US Patents2018 Cryptography PatentsChange from 2018
1International Business Machines6367%647-2%
2Amazon29312%25216%
3Microsoft2548%19928%
4Dell24910%257-3%
5Intel2076%219-5%
6Samsung Electronics1482%12320%
7Cisco Systems14314%11030%
8Broadcom12721%45182%
9Bank of America10726%8920%
10Alphabet1004%119-16%
11Capital One Financial9716%13646%
12Apple924%7326%
13Huawei903%5661%
14AT&T836%830%
15Alibaba Group Holding6822%30127%
15Hewlett Packard Enterprise688%29134%
15Oracle688%5719%
18Visa6226%4344%
19Canon581%4723%
20Ericsson553%4717%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

Telecommunications Ranks as the #10 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , ,

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies. 

As shown in Chart 1, the Telecommunications technology area was the 10th largest technology area in 2019 with 4,714 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the U.S.  The Telecommunications technology area covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to communications systems in which electric or electromagnetic signals are used to transmit modulated carrier wave information between points.  The transmission media is via radio wave generally of a frequency above human speech, yet at a frequency lower than infrared frequencies.  Radiotelephonic communication via wireless link is included in this class. 

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents) 

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2019 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory158418%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems142698%
3Multiplex and VoIP108246%
4Printing/Measuring and Testing103836%
5Optics98305%
6Selective Visual Display Systems73384%
7Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems59513%
8Computer Networks57533%
9Cryptography and Security50163%
10Telecommunications47142%
 

The top 20 companies in the Telecommunications area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include Samsung (#1), Huawei (#2), Qualcomm (#3), AT&T (#4) and others.  Samsung tops the list having obtained 397 US patents, down slightly from 2018.  Huawei had a 15% increase over 2018 at 328 US patents.  Qualcomm, at 279, was up less than 1% from 2018.  The top 20 companies represent a cross section of the technology sector.  Included are device manufacturers, wireless carriers, and media companies. 

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Telecommunications 

Patent 300 Rank in TelecomPatent 300 Company NameTelecom Patents 2019% of Company’s 2019 U.S. PatentsTelecom Patents 2018Change from 2018 Patents
1Samsung Electronics3975%408-3%
2Huawei32811%28415%
3Qualcomm27912%2771%
4AT&T22716%2203%
5Ericsson22614%20610%
6LG Electronics1977%230-14%
7Apple1777%182-3%
8International Business Machines1351%167-19%
9Sony1325%11515%
10Deutsche Telekom12444%7468%
10Intel1243%183-32%
12Nokia9511%108-12%
13NEC808%6523%
14Alphabet733%92-21%
14BBK Electronics7320%18306%
16Microsoft682%97-30%
16Skyworks Solutions6824%79-14%
18Blackberry5917%72-18%
19Lenovo Group589%4238%
20Verizon579%95-40%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.

First Action Interview (FAI) Pilot Program Usage Remains Low

Patent Analytics, USPTO , , , ,
By Tia Brand

Since its inception in 2008, the First Action Interview (FAI) Pilot Program has been hailed as an efficiency booster, increasing face time with examiners and potentially decreasing the number of office actions per application.  Numerous articles, blog posts and the USPTO itself have maintained that the program increases the rate of first action allowance, boosts total rates of allowance over a 5-year period from the filing date, and decreases total prosecution time compared to applications which do not take advantage of the FAI program.  All these things logically translate to decreased prosecution costs and happier clients, so why do few applicants take advantage of this fee-free program?

Despite a drastic decrease in 2013 and the subtler usage decrease in 2018, FAI program usage has trended up during the past 10 years, with the 510 total FAI requests filed in 2008 more than doubling to over 1100 FAI requests in 2018.  However, this is still a small percentage of the nearly 300,000 original utility applications filed in the US each year.

The First Action Interview program has been available to all art units since the Full Pilot Program was introduced in 2011, yet there are some tech areas, most notably Biotechnology & Organic (1600) and Chemical and Materials Engineering (1700), where the FAI program is hardly being used at all.  Upon implementation of the Full Pilot Program in 2011, all technology centers saw an uptick in FAI filings, led by Computer Networks, Multiplex, Cable and Cryptography/Security (2400) and Communications (2600).  However, in 2013 Mechanical Engineering (3700) was the only tech center with over 100 FAI requests.  It would be interesting to review changes in patent law during calendar years 2012-2013 to determine the cause of this drastic decrease in FAI requests across all technologies.

After the decline in 2013, FAI filings tended to increase for every technology area through 2016, with Computer Networks, Multiplex, Cable and Cryptography/Security (2400) and Communications (2600) again seeing the most impressive number of FAI filings.  In 2016, Chemical and Materials Engineering (1700) and Biotechnology & Organic remained the tech areas with lowest FAI program usage.  In recent years, Computer Networks, Multiplex, Cable and Cryptography/Security (2400) has continued to dominate FAI usage, with Communications (2600) dropping to near the bottom of the pack and all other areas maintaining, at best, modest FAI Program usage.

Despite promising reports on benefits of the First Action Interview (FAI) Pilot Program, most applicants, especially those in the Chemical and Biological fields, are not taking advantage of the tool 10 years after its original introduction to the public.  The reason for this may simply be due to lack of knowledge surrounding the First Action Interview process or total unfamiliarity with the existence of the program.  Moving forward, applicants should consider using the FAI Pilot Program in order to decrease prosecution time and costs.  Detailed information regarding filing requirements for FAI requests can be found in the USPTO Official Gazette.

Analytics Chart on Laptop

WIPO Releases 2019 World Intellectual Property Indicators Report

Patent Analytics ,

Last month the World Intellectual Property Organization released the 2019 World Intellectual Property Indicators Report, a report showing considerable increase in worldwide patent applications.  Nearly half of all patent applications in 2018 were filed in China, with that number increasing to 66.8% if you consider all filings in Asia.  The top five countries receiving patent applications in 2018 were China (1.54 million), U.S. (597,141), Japan (313, 567), South Korea (209,992) and the European Patent Office (174.397).

Although US applicants lead the charge in foreign filings, applications filed at the USPTO are down slightly from 2017.  The last time the USPTO saw a decrease in patent applications was 2009. Despite the recent decrease in applications, the US maintains the top spot for patents in force, with 3.1 million out of 14 million active patents worldwide.

For more information on 2018 intellectual property trends, read the full report at the WIPO website, here.

 

Mind the Gap Analysis

Portfolio Gap Analysis of Globalfoundries and Taiwan Semiconductor

Patent Analytics , , , , ,

Globalfoundries and Taiwan Semiconductor announced an agreement to cross-license each other’s patents and those patents filed over the next ten years.

Below is gap analysis portfolio comparison of each company’s active U.S. patent families with the ability to filter the data by type of application, publication date, filing date, and cpc subclass description.

To learn more about how Harrity Patent Analytics can help you find insights into the patent world, contact us via email HERE.

TRY OUR INTERACTIVE DASHBOARD

 

Top Companies in Blockchain Patents

Patent 300 Dashboard, Patent Analytics , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

Blockchain is an emerging technology that has taken the world by storm.  In October 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto published a seminal paper, titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System“, and the age of blockchain was born.  Since then, entrepreneurs and large corporations have explored implementation of blockchain technology in financial transactions, smart contracts, automotive, retail, healthcare, energy, utilities, travel, supply chain, and gaming, among other industries.

Based on our analysis of active patents & pending applications, blockchain-related filings have increased significantly around the world in recent years.  For instance, there were only 126 filings in 2014, but by 2017 there were over 3,700 applications filed in the blockchain space.  In 2018, a year in which not all the filings have yet become public, there have already been over 8,200 filings.  The growth curve in blockchain filings is truly exponential.  It will be interesting to see over the coming years whether this trend continues.

TRY OUR INTERACTIVE DASHBOARD

Page 1 highlights the top players in the blockchain space, page 2 highlights the filing trends, and page 3 highlights the patent issuance trends.  You can click on elements (e.g., country code, company name, type filter, filing date filter) of the dashboard to filter the data.

The geographic distribution of filings is also very interesting.  To date, over 10,000 blockchain filings occurred in China, more than half of all blockchain related filings worldwide.  According to a recent Forbes article, nearly 70% of crypto mining activity occurs in China, creating significant interest in protecting IP in the crypto currency space.  The top ten filers of chinese patent applications in the blockchain space are as follows:

China Blockchain Patent Applications Filed (as of 10/1/2019)
RankCompanyActive Patents & Pending Applications
1Alibaba259
2CUNC189
3Hangzhou Fuzamei163
4Ping An151
5Baidu139
6Shenzhen Launch102
7Tencent102
8Zhongan IT89
9Shenzhen Oneconnect77
10Shenzhen Onething74

Notably, the U.S. has the second most blockchain filings, with over 2,700 filings.  In the U.S., the top ten filers of patent applications in the blockchain space are as follows:

US Blockchain Patent Applications Filed (as of 10/1/2019)
RankCompanyActive Patents & Pending Applications
1IBM252
2Alibaba93
3Bank of America81
4Mastercard73
5Wal-mart63
6Accenture52
7Intel46
8Nchain32
9Coinplug29
10TD Bank28

In comparison, the top ten U.S. patent owners in the blockchain space are as follows:

US Blockchain Patents Issued (as of 10/1/2019)
RankCompanyActive Patents
1IBM57
2Accenture26
3Bank of America24
4Mastercard13
5Winklevoss IP13
6Capital One12
7Dell9
8Vijay Madisetti9
9TD Bank9
10Blockchain Asics7

According to a recent report published by Accenture PLC, worldwide spending on blockchain solutions has a forecast annual growth rate (CAGR) of 76.0%, reaching $12.4 billion in 2022.  The blockchain space is still in the early stages of development, and it will be interesting to see how the technology evolves and who else enters the space.

To learn more about how Harrity Patent Analytics can help you find insights into the patent world, contact us via email HERE.

The Pencil Test

How Reliable is the Pencil Test for Expediting the Patent Prosecution Process?

Articles, Patent Analytics , , , , ,
By Nathan Phares, Associate

Many patent practitioners and Examiners have spoken of the “pencil test,” which suggests that an independent claim is more likely to be rejected or is rejected as a matter of course if the claim is shorter than a pencil laid upon the claim.  Some point to the pencil test as a useful rule of thumb and suggest “padding” the length of the independent claim in hopes of improving the outcomes of prosecution.  However, drafting a lengthy independent claim may unnecessarily narrow the scope of the claim.  Does the length of the independent claim truly impact prosecution outcomes, or is the pencil test a myth?  We’ve analyzed the data, and we provide our conclusions below.

The data set we created for this analysis includes all patents that issued from applications filed post-AIA.  We limited the scope of the data set to electrical, mechanical, chemical, and biotech tech centers (i.e., Tech Centers 1600, 1700, 2100, 2400, 2600, 2800, 3600, and 3700).  For each patent, the data set indicates the number of Office Actions (OAs), the Art Unit and Tech Center, the length of claim 1 in total words and unique words, the length of the specification, and various other data (e.g., number of RCEs, Assignee, Agent, pendency, and so on).  We didn’t filter for unusually long or short claims – the longest claims (topping out at over 8,000 words!) and the shortest claims seem to generally be legitimate.

According to the data, first-OA allowances are slightly more likely with a longer independent claim than with a shorter independent claim, suggesting that the pencil test may be a factor in first-OA allowances.  Figure 1 shows a chart of the average number of total words in Claim 1 for buckets of the number of OAs.  First-OA allowances, which are associated with zero OAs, have a slightly longer first claim on average than second-OA allowances.  This relationship holds across all the Tech Centers we analyzed except TC 1600.  Figure 2 shows a chart of the average number of unique words in Claim 1.  In Figure 2, the same impact is present but is far less pronounced, indicating that total word count is more strongly correlated with first-OA allowance than unique word count.

 

Figure 1

 

Figure 2

The pencil test seems not to predict outcomes other than first-OA allowances: as the number of OAs before allowance increases, so does the length of claim 1.  This is the opposite of what the pencil test would suggest and may reflect the tendency to amend features into claim 1 over the course of prosecution in pursuit of allowance.

As the data shows, independent claims that include more total words tend to receive better treatment at the outset of prosecution, but outcomes are not clearly impacted by the pencil test as prosecution continues.  Therefore, the patent drafter should consider lengthening the independent claim if a first-OA allowance is the goal.  However, the data shows that the impact of the pencil test is mild at best, so the drafter should not rely on claim length alone to carry the day.  For example, the art unit where the application is assigned is a powerful predictor of the efficiency of the patent prosecution.  Therefore, the drafter should consider how the language used in the application may impact the assignment of the art unit.

It is important to note the limitations of the data set.  First, the claim lengths shown above are claim lengths of the issued patent, not of the patent application when it is first examined.  Thus, it is hard to tell whether the correlation between claim length and length of prosecution is due to the amendment of features into claim 1.  Second, we omitted patents associated with 8 or more OAs from the charts above, since the data set gets quite sparse after 7 OAs – for example, the 10, 11, 12, and 13 OA buckets collectively represent only 59 patents.  However, the trend shown in Figures 1 and 2 continues through the 9 OA bucket.

Top 20 Semiconductor and Energy Companies US 2018

Semiconductors and Memory Ranks as the #1 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics , , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

Chart 1 shows the Semiconductors and Memory technology area ranked highest in 2018.  There were 15,153 patents issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S.  Semiconductors and Memory technology covers multiple United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications.  Included are processes for manufacturing semiconductors and solid-state devices.  Also included are processes and apparatus for addressing, accessing and controlling, and forming memory addresses in a computer or digital data processing system.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

The top 20 companies in the Semiconductors and Memory area, shown in Chart 2, include Taiwan Semiconductor (#1), Samsung (#2), IBM (#3), Micron (#4), and others.  Taiwan Semiconductor tops the list having obtained 1,972 U.S. patents, up slightly from 2017.  Samsung had 1,522 U.S. patents, down nearly 15% from 2017.  IBM, at 1,318, was up slightly from 2017.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are chip makers, device makers, and various electronics companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Semiconductors and Memory

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 Rank in Semiconductors and MemorySemiconductor and Memory Patents 2018% of Company’s 2018 U.S. PatentsSemiconductor and Memory Patents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
Taiwan Semiconductor1197279%18934%
Samsung2152219%1744-15%
IBM3131814%12714%
Micron464569%55614%
Mubadala Investment559372%687-16%
Semiconductor Energy Lab647855%587-23%
SK Hynix746858%652-39%
Toshiba Memory841960%468-12%
Infineon939245%505-29%
BOE1038724%451-17%
Intel1137711%481-28%
Renesas1232055%365-14%
United Microelectronics1331893%326-3%
STMicroelectronics1424935%2288%
TCL1523024%16727%
LG Display1622433%2164%
Western Digital1721529%330-53%
Sony181979%1847%
Texas Instruments1917822%212-19%
Fuji Electric2017652%12827%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Patent 300™ Automotive Sector by 2018 US Patents

Toyota Tops Auto Market in Patent 300™

Patent Analytics , , , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

Big head, long tail.  This isn’t the description of an exotic animal, rather it describes the automotive sector of the Patent 300™.  The top 25 auto companies and parts makers obtained more than 14,000 utility patents in 2018, but the top five obtained 60% of them.

The report, which details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities receiving utility patents in the U.S. last year, shows that the top 25 companies in the automotive space were awarded patents in a variety of areas, from the expected (Surface Transportation for Honda, Ford and GM) to the unexpected (Wells, Earth Boring/Moving for BMW, Magna and Schaeffler).

Toyota leads the pack with 2,554 patents obtained in 2018.  It is the No. 6 company in the Patent 300™ overall and has a leading position in several patent areas. The Japanese car maker is No. 1 in both Computerized Vehicle Controls and Fuel Cells and Batteries. It holds the No. 2 position in three areas: Surface Transportation; Material and Article Handling; and Static Structures, Supports and Furniture. It ranks No. 4 in Thermal & Combustion Technology, the area where it holds the highest number of its 2018 patents.

Ford is in second place with 2,149 patents and bests its rival, Toyota, to hold the No. 1 spot in both Surface Transportation and Static Structures, Supports and Furniture.  It holds the No. 2 spot in Computerized Vehicle Controls and in Vehicles and System Alarms.  It had most of its 2018 patents in Thermal & Combustion Technology, where it holds the No. 3 spot.  It is No. 15 overall in the Patent 300™.

South Korean car maker Hyundai rounds out the list at No. 3 with 1,539 patents.  It holds the No. 1 position in Material and Article Handling, the No. 3 position in Computerized Vehicle Controls and the No. 5 position in both Surface Transportation and Thermal & Combustion Technology.  Hyundai sits at No. 22 in the Patent 300™.

Those who follow the automotive field will recognize that the car makers’ rankings in the top three mirror their positions in Computerized Vehicle Controls, an area that includes utility patents for things that can control the direction and speed of a car, and controls for autonomous vehicles.  This is no coincidence, as cars become more and more automated and as the market moves toward autonomous vehicles.

Patent 300 Automotive Top 25

Parts manufacturers make up the other portion of the sector, including tire companies that are household names: Continental (9), Bridgestone (15), Sumitomo (16), and Michelin (23). These companies share top spots in the Tires technology area, including Sumitomo at No. 2, Bridgestone at No. 3, Michelin at No. 4.  In case you’re wondering, the No. 1 in this area, which includes adhesive bonding and plastic molding, is a company that tends to focus on much larger vehicles than others in the automotive space, namely Boeing, No. 32 in the Patent 300™.

The overall picture of the industry looks rosy, as car makers have obtained an increased number of patents year-over-year.  Toyota’s issued patents went up 41% from 2015 to 2018, and Ford, Hyundai, BMW and Mazda all experienced increases of more than 75% in the same period of time.

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Top 20 Electrical Circuits and Systems Companies patent 300 2019

Electrical Circuits and Systems Ranks as the #2 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics , , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

Chart 1 shows the Electrical Circuits and Systems technology area ranked 2rd largest in 2018.  There were 13,215 patents issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S.  Electrical Circuits and Systems technology covers multiple United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications.

Included are electrical systems and devices, covering a broad spectrum of electrical and electromagnetic systems, devices, and circuitry, as well as electrical connectors.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

The top 20 companies in the Electrical Circuits and Systems area, shown in Chart 2.  They include Murata (#1), Samsung (#2), Mitsubishi Electric (#3), GE (#4), and others.  Murata tops the list having obtained 458 U.S. patents, up 6% from 2017.  Samsung had 456 U.S. patents, down 11% from 2017.  Mitsubishi Electric, at 337, was down 4% from 2017.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are device makers, chip makers, and auto makers, and various manufacturing companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Electrical Circuits and Systems

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 RankPatents 2018Percentage of 2018 PatentsPatents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
Murata Manufacturing145861%4326%
Samsung24566%507-11%
Mitsubishi Electric333728%349-4%
GE428511%334-17%
Intel52838%333-18%
Panasonic628015%356-27%
Apple Inc.727813%24612%
IBM82493%2394%
Toyota924610%20019%
Yazaki1023873%272-14%
Sumitomo Electric1122647%248-10%
Denso1222619%273-21%
Infineon1322125%266-20%
Samsung Electro-mechanics1421465%17817%
Qualcomm152139%246-15%
Texas Instruments1621127%239-13%
Siemens1720915%231-11%
TE Connectivity1820867%246-18%
Toshiba1919612%15222%
Hon Hai2018839%296-57%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Multiplex and VoIP - Top 20

Multiplex and VoIP Ranks as the #3 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300 Report

Patent Analytics , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

Chart 1 shows the Multiplex and VoIP technology area ranked 3rd largest in 2018, where 9,875 patents were issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S.  Multiplex and VoIP technology covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to simultaneous transmission of two or more information signals in either or both directions over the same transmission medium.  Transmission in this manner allows discrete recovery of information signals.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

The top 20 companies in the Multiplex and VoIP area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include LG Electronics (#1), Huawei (#2), Ericsson (#3), Qualcomm (#4), and others.  Despite a 19% decrease from 2017, LG Electronics tops the list having obtained 894 U.S. patents. Huawei had a 17% increase over 2017 at 882 U.S. patents.  Ericsson, at 747, was down 5% from 2017. The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are device makers, chip makers, and telecommunications companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Multiplex and VoIP

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 Rank in Multiplex and VoIPMultiplex and VoIP Patents 2018% of Company's 2018 U.S. PatentsMultiplex and VoIP Patents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
LG Electronics189436%1060-19%
Huawei288240%73217%
Ericsson374754%784-5%
Qualcomm471930%7003%
Samsung56118%5746%
Intel654216%5243%
Cisco730435%400-32%
Nokia830334%350-16%
AT&T924019%21212%
Softbank1021231%17816%
Sony112019%14926%
IBM121932%214-11%
Apple131879%1832%
ZTE1418138%212-17%
NEC1517922%215-20%
Fujitsu1617313%243-40%
Dell171638%14014%
Interdigital1815842%185-17%
ETRI1913626%10523%
Broadcom2013439%147-10%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Optics Ranks as the #4 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

Chart 1 shows the Optics technology area ranked the 4th largest in 2018.  There were 9,003 patents issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S.  Optics covers the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications for apparatus and corresponding processes used for storing and retrieving optical or magneto-optical information.  The basis of the technology is relative movement between an optical storage carrier or medium and a transducer along a continuous path.

The class includes apparatus and corresponding processes for making copies or editing optical records, falling within the above definition.  It includes the transfer medium having a specific information storage structure.  The scope of the Optics technology class overlaps with other classes and subclasses.  It is an integral part of the class of patents covering Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

The top 20 companies in the Optics area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include Samsung (#1), Canon (#2), BOE Technology (#3), TCL Corporation (#4), and others.  Samsung tops the list having obtained 672 U.S. patents, down from 2017.  Canon had 366 U.S. patents.  BOE Technology, at 326, was up 8% from 2017.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Telecommunications

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 Rank in OpticsOptics Patents 2018% of Company's 2018 U.S. PatentsOptics Patents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
Samsung16728%769-14%
Canon236610%426-16%
BOE332620%3018%
TCL424826%19322%
Carl Zeiss524667%255-4%
ASML621686%1998%
Philips721316%224-5%
Panasonic820111%14130%
Japan Display919832%212-7%
Seiko Epson1018414%203-10%
GE111536%1437%
Nikon1215063%13013%
Fujifilm1314712%186-27%
Toshiba141398%7149%
Corning1513728%160-17%
IBM161251%1232%
Hitachi171249%175-41%
Sony181226%164-34%
Olympus1912018%10215%
LG Display2011817%1079%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Printing or Measuring and Testing Ranks as the #5 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics , , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

Chart 1 shows the Printing or Measuring, and Testing technology area ranked 5th largest in 2018.  There were 8,641 patents issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S.  Printing or Measuring and Testing cover United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to Printing and Measuring Technology, respectively.

Printing patents include means adapted to produce characters or designs on surfaces by the impression of types or dies.  Also included is applying coating material through the openings of a covering pattern sheet, such as stenciling. Printing patents also cover impression from graphic or intaglio surfaces.  These patents include organizations using a design or character dies that emboss, burn, or perforate, and that apply ink.

Measuring and Testing is the generic class for processes and apparatus for measuring of any kind or for any testing.  It includes all subjects not provided for in other classes.  The term “test” includes inspection, processes, and apparatus for examination or review not covered by other classes.  This class is the generic class for sampling and consists of all sampling apparatus and processes not otherwise classified.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

The top 20 companies in the Printing or Measuring and Testing area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include Canon (#1), Seiko Epson (#2), Brother (#3), HP (#4), and others.  Canon tops the list having obtained 843 U.S. patents, up 8% from 2017.  Seiko Epson had 496 U.S. patents. Brother Industries, at 353, was down 1% from 2017.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are device makers and software producers, auto makers, and electronics companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Telecommunications

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 RankPatents 2018Percentage of 2018 PatentsPatents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
Canon184324%7728%
Seiko Epson249639%536-8%
Brother335358%357-1%
HP431042%22627%
Ricoh529228%325-11%
Kyocera627326%22617%
Siemens726619%2487%
Toshiba826316%16836%
IBM92393%251-5%
GE102128%234-10%
Fujifilm1119316%248-28%
Samsung121872%1775%
Konica Minolta1317426%13522%
Robert Bosch1416513%176-7%
Halliburton1512414%11110%
Hitachi161149%151-32%
Toyota171104%1064%
Panasonic181096%999%
Denso191059%8321%
Taiwan Semi20974%111-14%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems Ranks as the #6 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics , , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

Chart 1 shows the Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems technology ranked 6th largest in 2018.  There were 7,017 patents issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S. Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems covers several United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications.  Motive Power Systems are systems of electrical supply and/or of control for one or more electric motors.  Electrical Systems and Devices, Power Supply or Regulation Systems, Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches, are among the many possible classifications related to this technology area.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

The top 20 companies in the Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems area are shown in Chart 2. They include UTX (#1), GE (#2), Ford (#3), Toyota (#4), and others.  United Technologies Corporation tops the list having obtained 906 U.S. patents, up 46% from 2017.  General Electric had a 6% increase over 2017 at 574 U.S. patents.  Ford, at 462, was down 4% from 2017.  The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the manufacturing, transportation, and technology sectors. Included are automakers and supporting companies, tech companies, and other manufacturers.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 Rank in Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power SystemsThermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems Patents 2018% of Company's 2018 U.S. PatentsThermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems Patents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
UTX190642%49246%
GE257422%5376%
Ford346221%482-4%
Toyota440716%3816%
Hyundai525116%19722%
GM622619%2184%
Safran722444%16128%
Rolls-Royce821655%18415%
Denso921518%17817%
Siemens1018513%1765%
Mitsubishi Electric1117515%191-9%
Robert Bosch1217113%176-3%
LG Electronics131436%148-3%
Caterpillar1414028%192-37%
Mitsubishi Heavy1513841%161-17%
Honeywell.16999%104-5%
Continental179623%105-9%
Mahle189158%113-24%
Borgwarner199146%883%
Honda20879%808%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Selective Visual Display Systems Ranks as the #7 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

Chart 1 shows the Selective Visual Display Systems technology area ranked 7th largest in 2018.  Selective Visual Display Systems covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to processes and apparatus for selective, electrical control of two or more light-generating or light-controlling display elements. Processes and devices under these classifications use received or stored image data signal. The image data includes character, graphical information, or display attribute data.  Image data sources may consist of peripheral input devices, television signals, image data recognition, or computers.

This class also includes digital data processing systems or methods for visual presentation.  Data processing consists of the creation or manipulation of graphic objects (e.g., artificial images), or text.  The class includes telegraphy subclasses for digitizing writing tablets, styluses, and circuits.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

The top 20 companies in the Selective Visual Display Systems area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies. Selective Visual Display Systems is an important technology area in the patent world with over 4,855 US patents in 2018 alone.  They include Samsung (#1), BOE Technology Group (#2), TCL (#3), Apple (#4), and others.  Samsung tops the list having obtained 909 US patents, up slightly from 2017.  BOE Technology had a 20% increase from 2017 at 481 US patents.  TCL, at 308, was up 28% from 2017. The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector.  Included are device manufacturers, software, and media companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Selective Visual Display Systems

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 Rank in Selective Visual Display SystemsSelective Visual Display Systems Patents 2018% of Company’s 2018 U.S. PatentsSelective Visual Display Systems Patents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
Samsung190911%9011%
BOE248129%38720%
TCL330832%22328%
Apple425812%20421%
LG Display524136%20415%
Japan Display621535%18713%
Sony71849%1783%
Microsoft81546%12718%
Synaptics911659%119-3%
Seiko Epson10967%7918%
Semiconductor Energy Lab119411%940%
LG Electronics12924%113-23%
Sharp138913%111-25%
Panasonic14804%4642%
IBM15801%5235%
Lenovo167813%90-15%
Alphabet17703%657%
Microchip Technology186534%4235%
Intel19592%4819%
Immersion205841%3933%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Telecommunications Top 20 Patent 300 2019

Telecommunications Ranks as the #8 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics , , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

As is shown in Chart 1, the Telecommunications technology area is the 8th largest technology area in 2018 with 4,761 patents issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S.  The Telecommunications technology area covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to communications systems in which electric or electromagnetic signals are used to transmit modulated carrier wave information between points.  The transmission media is via radio wave generally of a frequency above human speech, yet at a frequency lower than infrared frequencies. Radiotelephonic communication via wireless link is included in this class.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

The top 20 companies in the Telecommunications area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies.  They include Samsung (#1), Huawei (#2), Qualcomm (#3), LG (#4) and others.  Samsung tops the list having obtained 408 US patents, down slightly from 2017.  Huawei had a 23% increase over 2017 at 284 US patents. Qualcomm, at 277, was down 38% from 2017.  The top 20 companies represent a cross section of the technology sector.  Included are device manufacturers, wireless carriers, and media companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Telecommunications

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 Rank in TelecomTelecom Patents 2018% of Company’s 2018 U.S. PatentsTelecom Patents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
Samsung14085%412-1%
Huawei228413%21823%
Qualcomm327712%382-38%
LG Electronics42309%2166%
AT&T522017%2143%
Ericsson620615%282-37%
Intel71835%225-23%
Apple81828%224-23%
IBM91672%198-19%
Sony101155%138-20%
Nokia1110812%193-79%
Softbank1210315%106-3%
Microsoft13974%934%
Verizon149515%125-32%
Alphabet Inc.15924%113-23%
Skyworks167938%5827%
Deutsche Telekom177442%714%
Blackberry187220%108-50%
ZTE196714%81-21%
NEC20658%88-35%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Harrity Patent 300 Computer Networks

Computer Networks Ranks as the #9 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics , ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

As is shown in Chart 1, the Computer Networks technology area is the 9th largest technology area in 2018 with over 4,540 patents issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S.  The Computer Networks technology area covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to electrical computer or digital data processing system or corresponding data processing method including apparatus or steps for transferring data or instruction information between a plurality of computers wherein the computers employ the data or instructions before or after transferring and the employing affects said transfer of data or instruction information.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

When you look at the top 20 companies obtaining patents in the Computer Networks technology area, shown in Chart 2, all of the companies are large global technology companies such as IBM (#1), Amazon (#2), Alphabet (#5), and Facebook (#8).  IBM ranks #1 on the list having obtained 845 U.S. patents in the Computer Networks technology area, which is a 5% increase over 2017.  9% of IBM’s U.S. patents obtained in 2018 are classified in the Computer Networks technology area.  Samsung (#7) has the largest year over year increase in Computer Networks patents at 33%, while Nokia (#17) had the largest decrease at -62%.  While the companies in the top 20 are all large global technology companies, they cover a range of industries including enterprise IT, social media, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and more.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Computer Networks

Patent 300 Company NamePatent 300 Rank in Computer NetworksComputer Networks Patents 2018% of Company’s 2018 U.S. PatentsComputer Networks Patents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
IBM18459%8065%
Amazon230714%25019%
Dell327613%21622%
Microsoft427111%294-8%
Alphabet52118%280-33%
Cisco615618%178-14%
Samsung71532%10333%
Facebook813418%181-35%
Oracle911816%1143%
AT&T101078%132-23%
Huawei111075%1025%
Verizon1210015%1000%
Ericsson13796%110-39%
Tencent147122%90-27%
Intel15622%75-21%
Sony16593%5310%
Nokia17526%84-62%
HPE18479%3428%
Red Hat194715%52-11%
Qualcomm20462%72-57%

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Harrity Patent 300 Cryptography and Security

Cryptography and Security Ranks as the #10 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report

Patent Analytics ,
By Rocky Berndsen

The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States.  Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.

As is shown in Chart 1, the Cryptography and Security technology area is the 10th largest technology area in 2018 with over 4,300 patents issued in the U.S.  The Cryptography and Security technology area covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to secure communications and information security.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)

RankPatent 300 Technology Area2018 U.S. PatentsPercentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents
1Semiconductors/Memory15,1539%
2Electrical Circuits and Systems13,2158%
3Multiplex and VoIP9,8756%
4Optics9,0035%
5Printing/Measuring and Testing8,6415%
6Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems7,0174%
7Selective Visual Display Systems4,8553%
8Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details4,7613%
9Computer Networks4,5443%
10Cryptography and Security4,3113%

When you look at the top 20 companies obtaining patents in the Cryptography and Security technology area, shown in Chart 2, most of the companies are large technology companies such as IBM (#1), Dell (#2), and Intel (#4).  In addition, there are also cryptography and security-focused companies like Symantec (#9) and Fortinet (#14).  IBM ranks #1 on the list having obtained 613 U.S. patents in the Cryptography and Security technology area, which is a 3% increase over 2017.  About 7% of IBM’s U.S. patents obtained in 2018 are classified in the Cryptography and Security technology area.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Cryptography and Security

Patent 300 - Company NamePatent 300 Rank in Cryptography and SecurityCryptography and Security Patents 2018% of Company’s 2018 U.S. PatentsCryptography and Security Patents 2017Change from 2017 Patents
IBM16137%5953%
Dell225712%23210%
Amazon325212%21415%
Intel42196%222-1%
Microsoft51998%248-25%
Samsung61232%10713%
Alphabet71195%144-21%
Cisco811013%8325%
Symantec910370%134-30%
Bank of America108928%7615%
AT&T11837%93-12%
Qualcomm12823%811%
Apple13733%678%
Fortinet146752%5518%
Oracle15578%64-12%
Huawei16563%535%
Verizon17569%64-14%
Blackberry184813%52-8%
Canon19471%48-2%
Ericsson20473%439%

Cryptography and Security is an important technology area in the patent world with over 4,300 U.S. patents in 2018 alone.  The importance and value of this technology is only increasing as evidenced by the daily news headlines related to data privacy, data security, and secure communications.

For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.

Patent 300 Harrity Analytics

Law360 Covers the Release of Harrity’s Patent 300™ Report

Firm News , , ,

Following the release of Harrity’s Patent 300™ Report, Law360 published an article, “IBM, Samsung, Canon Led 2018 Patent Gains, Report Says,” highlighting the key features and benefits of the patent rankings. The Patent 300™ Report lists companies, organizations and universities by the number of utility patents they received in 2018.

As the Law360 article describes, “The report, totaling more than 1,200 pages, takes a deep dive into each ranked company. For example, it breaks down that IBM has a revenue of nearly $80 billion and more than 360,000 employees. It then shows that the company received 9,111 utility patents in 2018.”

According to Rocky Berndsen, head of Harrity Patent Analytics, “The goal was really to provide something that’s going to be valuable across the spectrum of the IP community.” In-house attorneys can use the report to compare themselves against other companies, and law firms can leverage information in the report to develop business for their clients.

A spokesperson for Intel praised the report for recognizing innovation in the tech industry. “Every day, our engineers and other employees push the boundaries of computing and communication technologies, and we’re proud that the value of their inventions is recognized.”

Find the Law360 article HERE (subscription required) and more information on the Patent 300™ Report here.

Kris Rhu Harrity Team

Using Data to Improve Patent Prosecution Performance

Articles, Patent Analytics , ,
By Kris Rhu

How many office actions should I expect? Should I file an RCE or a Notice of Appeal? Is it worth filing a Pre-Appeal? These, among others, are common questions that practitioners may ask themselves during patent prosecution. In the past, they were mostly unanswerable questions. Now, using data analytics, we can get a better sense of how the patent prosecution process will go and be able to make an informed decision when a crossroad is reached.  Below, we will explore how to use statistics about a patent Examiner, which are based on public data provided by the USPTO, during patent prosecution.  I have provided example screenshots from Patentprufer, which was developed by Harrity & Harrity.

Examiner’s Allowance Rate

By looking at an Examiner’s allowance rate (i.e. allowance vs. abandonments), we can get a sense of the journey early on.  A high allowance rate is an indicator that the Examiner likely has no qualms about allowing applications, and that the Examiner likely will not stubbornly stick to poor rejections.  For these types of Examiners, if appropriate, it may be worth taking a more assertive initial position, including arguing that the rejections should be withdrawn or offering modest amendments.  If the Examiner’s allowance rate is low, you may want to consider substantial amendments, get the Examiner’s Supervisor involved early in the process, or anticipate the need to possibly file an appeal.

Office Actions per Patent, RCEs per Patent

A high office action (OA) per patent and/or RCE per patent rate may be an indication that reaching allowability will be challenging.  These types of Examiners likely are unafraid to combine three, four, or even five references to make prior art rejections.    To get a patent application allowed in a more efficient manner than an examiner’s statistics suggest, a more proactive posture may be needed from the beginning.

Examiner Interview Statistics

Generally speaking, it is beneficial to interview an Examiner as it gives a practitioner an opportunity to get a better sense of the Examiner’s interpretations of the application and the applied references, and an opportunity to explain the invention.  A high interview success rate (i.e. interviews that lead to an allowance in the next office action) may be an indicator that the Examiner uses interviews as opportunities for compact prosecution.  Some of these Examiners may even provide suggestions for amendments that would lead to allowance.  If the interview success rate is low for the Examiner, consider sending a substantive interview agenda with proposed amendments to maximize the chance of reaching an agreement with the Examiner.

A comparison of a patent Examiner’s final rejection allowance rate with and without AFCP may be an indicator of whether the Examiner takes the AFCP process seriously.  If there is a significant difference with those rates, the Examiner likely uses the allocated 2-3 hours to find a way to allow the application.  However, if the rates are similar, the Examiner likely uses pre-pilot procedures regardless of whether an AFCP is filed.

Pre-Appeal Statistics

Pre-Appeal statistics can be useful when deciding whether to file an Appeal Brief or a Pre-Appeal Brief.  A high rate of allowance and/or re-opening of prosecution when pre-appeals are filed may indicate that it is worth presenting arguments in a Pre-Appeal Brief.  However, a low rate of allowance and a low rate of re-opening of prosecution may indicate that it would be better to forego the pre-appeal process and go straight to appeal.

Appeal Statistics

Analyzing a patent Examiner’s appeal statistics may be useful in determining whether to file an appeal or an RCE.  If the Examiner’s rate of allowance and/or re-opening of prosecution after appeal is high, it may be worth appealing rather than filing an RCE and avoid narrowing claims unnecessarily.

If the Examiner’s board decision success rate is high, it may be an indication that the Examiner goes to the Board only when he/she believes that an examiner’s answer would be particularly strong.  If you receive a compelling examiner’s answer from these types of Examiners, consider filing an RCE rather than going to the Board.

Conclusion

Just like how data analytics has improved efficiency in other industries, using examiner analytics can improve the efficiency of patent practitioners and the patent prosecution process.

Patent 300 Harrity Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics Releases Patent 300™ Report

Firm News, Patent Analytics ,

HARRITY PATENT ANALYTICS RELEASES PATENT 300™ REPORT

Report ranks and analyzes top 300 companies, organizations, and universities in the patent field

WASHINGTON (May 6, 2019) – Harrity Patent Analytics today released the publication of its inaugural Patent 300™ Report, the intellectual property industry’s premier resource for patent insights and competitive intelligence on the world’s leaders in technology. The report ranks and analyzes the top 300 companies, organizations and universities in the patent field, and contains more than 1,200 pages of patent portfolio analyses, detailed patent prosecution insights, technology area breakdowns, and portfolio cost and budget analytics.

The Patent 300™ Report provides in-house counsel, law firm partners, and c-suite executives with a detailed analysis of the world’s technology leaders, ranging from technology giants such as IBM (ranked #1) and Samsung (ranked #2), to leading universities such as MIT (ranked #114) and Johns Hopkins University (ranked #254), to newcomers including Uber (ranked #300) and GoPro (ranked #300).  The list represents 54 percent of the more than 300,000 U.S. patents issued in 2018.

“The Patent 300™ Report provides a wealth of information about the technology leaders obtaining patents in the United States,” said John Harrity, managing partner for Harrity & Harrity, the parent law firm of Harrity Patent Analytics. “The data contained in this report is invaluable information to companies, in-house counsel and law firms because it identifies the key players and summarizes what is happening today in the patent world.”

Key findings and trends from the Patent 300™ Report include:

  • 68.5 percent of Patent 300™ patents were in the electrical, software, and computer-related technologies, with 19 percent in mechanical, 9.1 percent in chemical, and 3.4 percent in biological technologies.
  • 122 of the Patent 300™ obtained patents in the semiconductor/memory technology area, making it the largest technology area at 8.8 percent of the Patent 300™.
  • Four of the top five companies had a decrease in the number of patents obtained in 2018 as compared to 2017.

A ranking of the top 300 companies, organizations and universities can be found here.

The full report is available to media upon request.

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300™ companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

 

Harrity Patent Analytics Releases 2018 Top Patent Firms List

Patent Analytics ,

WASHINGTON (February 21, 2019) – Harrity Patent Analytics is pleased to announce the publication of its annual list of top patent law firms. The 2018 edition of “Top Patent Firms” ranks the top patent law firms based on the total number of U.S. utility patents issued in 2018.

“In 2018, more than 300,000 patents were obtained by over 2,000 different law firms,” said Paul Harrity, a partner at Harrity & Harrity, the parent law firm of Harrity Patent Analytics. “Our goal is to raise awareness of the top law firms handling patent work in the U.S., and recognize the professionals that play a vital role in protecting intellectual property.”

Top Patent Firms only names patent firms that have obtained at least 50 utility patents where the patent firms are listed on the front of the utility patents. Company legal departments are not eliminated during data analysis.

The 2018 list is comprised of 722 total law firms. The full list is available here  https://harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/top-patent-firms-2018/.

About Harrity Patent Analytics

Harrity Patent Analytics, an analytical team within the boutique IP law firm of Harrity & Harrity, LLP, uses cutting-edge capabilities to analyze patent data and extract insights for clients to use when making strategic decisions regarding patent portfolios. Patent 300™ companies rely on Harrity Patent Analytics services to understand their patent portfolios, the patent portfolios of their competitors, and patent office trends around the world. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/services/patent-analytics/.

Download full press release HERE.

Top Patent Firms 2018

Top Patent Firms List 2017

Articles, Patent Analytics ,
By Paul Harrity, Rocky Berndsen, Jaclyn Jones & Matthew Maslink

Harrity Patent Analytics compiled a list of the top patent firms that are ranked based on the total number of U.S. utility patents that issued in 2017 where the patent firms were listed on the front of the utility patents. We have included only patent firms that have obtained at least 50 utility patents. We made an attempt to correct for typographical errors. We did not eliminate company legal departments from the list.

READ MORE>

Top Patent Firms Badge 2017, Harrity

Top Patent Firms 2018

Top Patent Firms for 2016

Articles, Patent Analytics ,
By Paul Harrity & Anna Yee (Originally published by IP Watchdog)

We compiled a list of the top patent firms that are ranked based on the total number of U.S. utility patents that issued in 2016 where the patent firms were listed on the front of the utility patents. We have included only patent firms that have obtained at least 50 utility patents. We made an attempt to correct for typographical errors. We did not eliminate company legal departments from the list.

For the list from last year see: Top Patent Firms for 2015.

READ MORE >