Total declines attributed to slower economic activity worldwide
International patent filings data from the World Intellectual Property Association note a 4.5% decrease in 2009, yet the decrease was not as sharp as initially predicted by the WPIO. Asian countries experienced an increase in patent filing activity, including Korea, Japan, and China.
Among the Top 10 largest corporate filers, four were Japanese companies: Panasonic (1), NEC Corporation (8), Toyota (9), and Sharp (10).
The University of California was the top educational institution for patent applications.
According to the WIPO release, the largest patent growth rates were experienced in micro-structural and nanotechnology (+10.2%), semiconductors (+10%) and thermal processes and apparatus (+ 7.2%). Declines were highest in the areas related to computer technology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology.