International Intellectual Property is strong now, but China is threatening global control – No thumpers

WIPO, 2-28-2023, "International Patent Applications Defy 2022 Challenges, Continue Upward Trend," World Intellectual Property Organization,

Demand for patent protection continued to grow in 2022, with innovators in China, the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Germany leading in filings under WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) which simplifies the process of seeking patent protection in multiple countries.

In 2022, PCT filings rose slightly by 0.3%, totaling 278,100 - the highest number ever recorded in a single year. India (+25.4%) and the Republic of Korea (+6.2%) saw sharp growth in PCT filings.

The overall modest growth rate reflects the challenging economic conditions prevailing in 2022. Notwithstanding these conditions, firms continued to invest in innovation and intellectual property.

Asia remained the dominant source of international patent applications, accounting for 54.7% of the 2022 total, up from 40.3% in 2012.

Demand for design protection saw double-digit growth, with China's 2022 accession to WIPO's international design registration system fueling a surge in international design applications.

In 2022, the number of designs included in international applications under WIPO’s Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs increased by 11.2% to reach 25,028.

Following exceptional growth of 15% in 2021, use of the international trademark system for brand protection in 2022 declined by -6.1%, the largest drop since 2009. The total number of applications filed in 2022 was about 69,000.

The economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 prompted firms to introduce new goods and services which helped fuel the exceptional growth in international trademark protection. Although lower than in 2021, the total number of applications filed under WIPO’s Madrid System for the International Registration of Trademarks in 2022 was still 8% higher than in 2020.

International IP filings largely held up in 2022. Despite difficult economic conditions and a decline in risk finance, businesses continued to invest in innovation. China’s entry into the Hague System – WIPO’s international register for industrial designs – fueled design applications from China and the rest of the world, showing that multilateral approaches to international cooperation can deliver benefits for everyone.