WIPO 2020 Figures
Global overview of patents, trademarks and industrial designs via WIPO in 2020.
WIPO 2020 Figures - Global overview of patents, trademarks and industrial designs via WIPO in 2020.
International patent applications reached the highest number ever, even amid a year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
International Patent System
International patent applications filed via WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), grew by 4% in 2020 to reach 275,900 applications – the highest number ever, despite an estimated drop in global GDP of 3.5% due to COVID-19 pandemic.
China, USA, Japan and Republic of Korea hold the top 5 on the largest users of WIPO’s PCT System. Portugal holds the 32nd position, with a significant increase when compared to 2019 (from 196 to 269 registrations).
International Trademark System
Use of the international trademark system dipped, but only slightly. This was expected given that trademarks tend to represent the introduction of new goods and services – both of which slowed as a result of the global pandemic.
International trademark applications via WIPO’s Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks decreased by 0.6% to 63,800 in 2020 - the first decline since the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.
U.S.A. applicants filed the largest number of international trademark applications, followed by those located in Germany, China, France and the U.K. Portugal had a decrease of 223 to 188 applications when comparing 2019 data, and is now on the 36th position.
International design system
The economic fallout from the pandemic hit demand for the protection of industrial designs via the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs. Demand fell by 15% in 2020 to 18,580 designs – the first decline since 2006.
Despite a substantial decrease, Germany remained the largest user of the international design system, with 3,666 designs. The U.S. moved up from 6th position to become the second largest user of the Hague System in 2020. Switzerland, the Republic of Korea (1,669) and Italy (1,231) are ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Portugal is on the 38th position, with a decrease of 23 to 14 applications in 2020.
Please find further information on facts and figures here and access 2020 Interactive Charts here.