The 2024 World Intellectual Property Indicators report from WIPO offers an extensive analysis of global IP trends across patents, trademarks, industrial designs, plant varieties, and geographical indications (GIs), reflecting a dynamic global innovation landscape. The article gives an overview of these important trends.
Global Patent Filings and Trends
Increase in Global Patent Filings
Global patent filings reached a historic high of 3.55 million in 2023, up 2.7% from 2022. This increase continues a four-year growth trend, rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact in 2019.
China, Korea, the United States, Japan, and India have been the key drivers of growth. China alone contributed 57,830 additional filings or around 47.2% of the global total.
Resident filings, which consist of applications submitted by domestic innovators within their own country, made up 71.2% of the global total (2.53 million), growing by 4.9% over the previous year. Non-resident filings, which indicate cross-border innovation and patent applications filed in other countries, declined by 2.2%, falling to 1.02 million.
Top Patent Offices:
The National Intellectual Property Administration of China (CNIPA) received 1.68 million applications, marking a 3.6% increase from 2022.
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with 598,085 applications.
Japan Patent Office (JPO) with 300,133 applications.
Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) with 243,310 applications.
European Patent Office (EPO) with 199,429 applications.
These top five offices combined accounted for 85% of global patent applications in 2023. This concentration reflects an intensified focus on patent activity in a few high-capacity IP offices.
China’s share grew from 32.2% in 2013 to 47.2% in 2023, while Japan's share dropped from 12.8% to 8.4% in the same period.
Regional Dominance and Long-Term Trends:
Asian patent offices, led by China, accounted for 68.7% of all global filings in 2023. This regional dominance grew by 10.3 percentage points from a decade ago, reflecting Asia’s strengthening position as the hub for innovation and IP activity.
North America and Europe saw their shares of global patent applications decline over the past ten years. North America's share dropped from 23.6% in 2013 to 17.8% in 2023, while Europe’s decreased from 13.5% to 10.3%.
The distribution of patent filings highlights an ongoing trend towards regional self-reliance, with Asian countries filing predominantly within the region, supported by robust domestic IP frameworks.
Patent Grants and In-Force Patents:
Globally, patent grants increased by 10.1% in 2023, reaching approximately 2 million patents issued. This marked the fastest growth rate since 2012, driven by strong growth from the IP offices of China, the EPO, and India.
China issued 920,797 patents, accounting for nearly half of all patents granted worldwide in 2023, followed by the U.S. (315,245), Japan (209,368), Korea (134,734), and the EPO (104,609).
In terms of patents in force, China led with 5 million active patents, representing a tenfold increase since 2009, followed by the United States (3.5 million), Japan (2.1 million), Korea (1.3 million), and Germany (928,106). This increase in in-force patents underscores China’s growing dominance in global IP.
Technology-Specific Trends and Utility Models:
Computer technology was the most frequently patented field globally, comprising 12.4% of total published patent applications followed by electrical machinery (6.8%), measurement (5.9%), medical technology (5.4%), and digital communication (5.3%).
Utility model (UM) applications, a form of IP with shorter protection and simpler requirements, saw a 3.9% increase in filings in 2023, reaching 3.13 million globally. China was the main driver, filing over 98% of all UM applications worldwide.
Gender Representation in Innovation:
Women inventors accounted for 17.7% of inventors listed in published PCT applications in 2023, an increase from 10.9% in 2009. However, gender disparity remains pronounced, with men comprising 82.3% of inventors.
China, Spain, and Turkey had the largest proportion of women inventors among the top 20 IP origins, reflecting varied representation levels across nations.
India’s Patent Landscape
Surge in Resident Filings
For the first time, resident applications exceeded non-resident ones at India’s IP office in 2023, with resident filings constituting 55.2% of the total applications, indicating an increase in domestic innovation and patenting activity.
Total patent filings in India grew by 17.2% in 2023, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth. This trend was primarily driven by resident applications. This shift reflects India's growing focus on fostering local innovation and improving its patent infrastructure.
High Growth in Patent Grants
India reported the fastest growth rate in granted patents among major offices, with a 149.4% increase over 2022. This growth rate was primarily driven by a surge in non-resident grants, which suggests that international applicants increasingly see India as a valuable market for patent protection.
Approximately 81.4% of applications processed by India’s IP office in 2023 were granted, indicating a high efficiency in the examination process. This positions India as one of the most efficient IP offices in terms of processing and granting patents.
Resident vs. Non-Resident Filings
In 2013, only 24.8% of filings at India’s IP office were from residents, compared to 55.2% in 2023. This increase in resident filings reflects rising confidence and investment in IP among Indian innovators and aligns with the government’s “Make in India” and “Startup India” initiatives, which aim to support local industries and technological advancements.
Focus on High-Tech Fields:
India is a major origin for filings in computer technology, with 11% of its published applications falling within this category.
Global Ranking and Positioning:
In the broader patent landscape, India recorded its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in patent applications. It is the only country among the top 20 origins to consistently achieve this level of growth over the past decade, highlighting a strong upward trajectory in India’s innovation ecosystem.
Global Trademark Filing Insights (2023)
Overall Decline in Trademark Filings
In 2023, an estimated 11.6 million trademark applications were filed worldwide, representing a slight decline of 1.3% (or approximately 157,000 fewer applications) compared to 2022. This marks the second consecutive year of declining trademark applications following a significant drop of 15.7% in 2022. The reductions in both years signal a departure from the 12-year growth streak that followed the 2009 global financial crisis.
Regional Insights and Office Rankings
China retained its top position as the largest trademark filing office, despite a 4.4% drop from the previous year. China’s filing class count of approximately 7.2 million was notably higher than that of the second-largest filer, the United States, which recorded around 739,395 filings. Together, China and the U.S. have consistently held the leading positions in global trademark filings since the early 2000s. Russia, India, and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) followed, rounding out the top five filing offices in 2023 and collectively representing nearly 62% of global trademark filings. This share has significantly increased from 45% a decade ago.
Resident and Non-Resident Filings
In 2023, trademark filings by non-residents constituted 15.8% of total filings globally, down from 27.7% in 2009. China’s overwhelming focus on domestic filings has been a significant factor in this trend; if China's filings are excluded, non-resident filings represent around 19.8% globally. Offices such as the EUIPO, Canada, Switzerland, and Australia saw the highest proportions of non-resident filings. Conversely, offices in China, India, and Brazil had relatively low shares of non-resident filings, each accounting for less than 10% of total filings.
Sector-Based Trademark Filing Trends
In 2023, trademark filings reflected global industry trends, with research and technology attracting the highest non-resident trademark filings worldwide, comprising about 20.1% of all non-resident filings followed by health (13.7%), clothing and accessories (12.4%), and business services (9.7%). These classifications, based on the Nice Classification system, indicate that industries such as technology, health, and lifestyle goods continue to drive international trademark demand. Variations were seen regionally, with China focusing predominantly on agricultural trademarks, while business services led in Brazil, and health sector filings were prominent in India.
Trademark Registrations and Renewals
The global volume of trademark registrations also declined in 2023, dropping by 18.7% to approximately 7.6 million. This represents over 1.7 million fewer registrations than in 2022. China’s office alone experienced a steep 29.1% decline in trademark registrations, contributing significantly to the global downward trend. Despite these declines, the number of active trademark registrations globally grew by 6.4% in 2023, reaching an estimated 88.2 million. This growth suggests that many trademarks from previous years remain valuable, with renewal rates high, particularly in major markets like China, India, and the U.S.
India’s Trademark Landscape
Rising Trademark Filings
India’s trademark office ranked fourth globally in 2023, with a total of 520,862 class filings—a 4.1% increase from the previous year. This upward trend is largely driven by resident filings, indicating that Indian businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of trademark protections.
Resident trademark filings in India continue to compensate for the relatively low volume of non-resident applications, which account for approximately 9.1% of total filings.
The health sector accounted for 21.9% of trademark applications in India, making it the leading sector in terms of filings. This high percentage underscores India’s significant and expanding health market, driven by increased demand for medical products, services, and pharmaceuticals.
Agriculture followed closely, representing 15.3% of filings, indicative of India’s agricultural base and the need for brand protections across a diverse range of agro-based goods and services.
The clothing and accessories sector also featured prominently, with 12.8% of applications, reflecting India’s status as a key player in global textile and apparel production.
In 2023, only 4.6% of trademark applications originating from India were filed in foreign jurisdictions. This trend reflects a domestic focus in brand protection strategies, with Indian businesses prioritizing local market protections. International trademark applications from India remain limited.
India had nearly 3.2 million active trademark registrations by the end of 2023, placing it among the top offices globally. This growth highlights the increasing recognition of trademark value within the country and underscores the broader trend of businesses seeking sustained brand protections.
Global Industrial Design Trends
Overall Growth in Filings
In 2023, global industrial design applications reached a record high, with 1.19 million filings, a 4% increase from 2022. This growth signifies a global surge in the recognition and protection of design innovation, with approximately 75% of intellectual property (IP) offices worldwide reporting higher filing activity.
Leading Offices
China remained the top office for design applications, receiving 26,600 more applications than in 2022, reinforcing its dominance in the sector. Followed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), which saw 4,142 additional applications, and India, with a rise of 5,611 applications.
Geographical Dominance
Asia accounted for 69% of all global design applications in 2023, maintaining its lead in industrial design innovation. This high concentration is largely due to China’s substantial contribution but also reflects strong performances from Japan, South Korea, and India.
Europe held the second-largest share at 23.5%, with significant contributions from the EUIPO, Germany, and the UK. North America’s share remained comparatively low at 4.5%. Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania collectively accounted for only 3% of the total filings, indicating a need for increased design protection and awareness in these regions.
Key Sectors for Industrial Design Applications
Top five accounted for 63.2% of all design classes filed, underlining specific global trends in industrial design focus. Textiles and Accessories Representing 17.3% of global filings followed by Furniture and Household Goods (16.9%), Tools and Machines (11%), Electricity and Lighting (9.2%) and ICT and Audiovisual (8.8%)
Across the top offices, these sectors constituted between 38% and 80% of design classes, indicating a concentrated effort within each nation to protect designs in a limited set of sectors, while the exact distribution varied by country.
Resident vs Non Resident Filing Activity
In 2023, resident applications constituted 82% of the total global design count. This high share of local filings was primarily driven by China, where resident design counts made up 97.3% of its total.
Non-resident filing activity grew notably in certain countries, particularly in the US, UK, and EUIPO, with the Hague System route accounting for roughly one-third of all non-resident filings. This system allows applicants to file in multiple countries through a single application, streamlining international design protection.
Growth and Declines Across Top IP Offices
Offices such as Spain (+33%), Indonesia (+30.1%), Italy (+25.3%), and India (+24.9%) showed the highest growth in application design counts. This increase reflects a rising awareness of industrial design's commercial value and a corresponding boost in design protection efforts.
Offices in Turkey and Germany experienced notable declines, with design counts decreasing by 30.9% and 13.4%, respectively.
Trends in Registrations and Processing
The global registration of industrial designs, in contrast to applications, saw a decrease for the second consecutive year, with approximately 944,600 registrations marking a 7% drop. This downward trend could reflect higher rejection rates or longer processing times in some jurisdictions.
Offices varied significantly in their processing speeds. For example, the EUIPO processed applications within five days on average, whereas the office of Thailand took over 900 days. Such disparities highlight challenges in harmonizing global design protection standards.
Top Countries by Design Activity Abroad
Industrial design filings by applicants abroad grew by 7.4% in 2023, reaching 274,200. The top five origins for foreign design applications were China, the US, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. China led in this category as well, with nearly 78,703 designs filed abroad, showcasing the internationalization of Chinese design efforts.
Countries like India (+294.1%), Canada (+30.1%), and Belgium (+20.7%) showed the highest growth in design filings abroad, indicating a strategic shift by companies from these countries to secure overseas markets.
India-Specific Industrial Design Trends
India reported significant growth in both resident and non-resident design applications in 2023, placing it among the fastest-growing IP offices globally. With a 24.9% increase in resident filings, India’s performance underscores a growing awareness and prioritization of industrial design protection within the country.
India’s non-resident filings surged by an extraordinary 294.1%, suggesting that India is becoming a more attractive destination for foreign design protection, likely driven by the country’s expanding manufacturing sector and foreign investment in design-focused industries.
Similar to global trends, India’s industrial design applications were concentrated in textiles and accessories, furniture and household goods, and tools and machines.
India recorded a high number of pending design applications in 2023, with 12,513 applications awaiting processing. This backlog points to potential capacity challenges within India’s IP office, which may need to address administrative bottlenecks to sustain its current growth trajectory in filings.
India also saw a significant 37% increase in design registrations, reflecting the growing success of applicants in securing IP rights.
Global Trends in Plant Variety Applications and Titles
In 2023, approximately 29,070 plant variety applications were filed worldwide, marking a 6.6% increase over 2022, which continues an eight-year growth trend. This growth highlights the increasing importance of plant variety protection as countries seek to secure intellectual property (IP) rights over new plant varieties, reflecting both agricultural innovation and the value of biodiversity.
Leading Countries
China was the largest contributor, accounting for 55.7% of global filings, with 16,184 applications. This growth was primarily driven by Chinese residents and represents a 24.2% increase over 2022. Following China were the EU’s Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) with 2,866 applications, the United States with 1,149 applications, the Netherlands with 856, and the Russian Federation with 852.
Significant Regional Contributions
Asia has become the dominant region for plant variety filings, capturing 62.1% of all global applications in 2023. Since 2013, the region’s share of global filings has grown from 24.3% to 62.1%, with applications almost quintupling over the decade. The rapid expansion in Asia, particularly driven by China and South Korea, indicates a strong regional focus on agricultural innovation.
Europe ranked second, representing 23.7% of global applications in 2023. However, Europe’s share has decreased over the years due to the substantial growth in Asia. Europe remains a key player through the CPVO, but some European countries like France, Germany, and the Netherlands have seen declines in application numbers.
North America and Oceania regions have experienced declines in plant variety applications over the past decade, with North America seeing a negative 3.5% average annual growth rate and Oceania a 1.6% decline. This reduction could be attributed to a more mature IP ecosystem in plant varieties or shifts in agricultural focus.
Resident vs. Non-Resident Filings
China led with the highest resident filings among the top 10 countries, with 95.9% of applications originating domestically. This trend reflects a strong national emphasis on securing IP rights for locally developed varieties.
In contrast, countries like the United States and Ukraine received a majority of applications from non-residents, suggesting these regions are attractive for foreign breeders aiming to secure market access or protect IP in strategic agricultural markets.
Sharp Increase in Plant Variety Titles
In 2023, plant variety titles granted globally rose by 41.8%, totalling 21,150. China saw the most significant increase in titles issued, with a 131% growth due to efforts to address a backlog of applications caused by a surge in filings since 2014.
The United Kingdom also saw a notable rise in titles granted, with a 1,400% increase, largely due to a transitional influx of applications after Brexit. Additional titles from the EU were transferred to the UK as part of the withdrawal agreement.
Long-Term Trends in Active Plant Variety Titles
By the end of 2023, around 195,610 plant variety titles were active globally. China held the largest share, followed by the CPVO, the US, and the UK. This rise in active titles indicates the increasing demand for plant variety protection globally and emphasizes the growing strategic value of plant varieties as IP assets.
Detailed Analysis of Geographical Indications (GIs)
Global Overview and Distribution of GIs
As of 2023, GIs have achieved significant global prominence, with approximately 58,600 GIs recorded worldwide across various sectors and legal frameworks.
Economic and Regional Distribution:
Upper-middle-income economies dominate the GI landscape, holding 52.2% of global GIs. High-income economies follow at 42.9%, while lower-middle-income economies account for 4.8%, and low-income economies a mere 0.1%.
European countries lead in GI registrations, contributing over half (52.5%) of global GIs. Asia trails with 39.5%, driven largely by China's significant number of GIs. Other regions, such as Oceania, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, hold smaller shares, with Africa representing only 0.2%. Notably, Latin America and the Caribbean had lower shares than previous years, attributed to missing data from countries like Chile and Mexico, known for their extensive GI portfolios.
Top GI-holding countries include China with 9,785 GIs, Germany with 7,586, Hungary with 7,290, and the Czech Republic with 6,657. China’s high number is predominantly secured through the trademark system, reflecting the country's approach to GI protection that prioritizes brand-like safeguarding over origin-based systems.
Sectoral Trends
Wines and Spirits make up nearly half (48.1%) of global GIs. The EU has the largest share in this category, with France, Italy, and Moldova actively leveraging GIs for wine and spirit exports.
Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs account for 44.8% of GIs, with China again leading in numbers, followed by the EU and countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Handicrafts represent a smaller portion (4.2%) but hold significant cultural and socio-economic importance, particularly in Asia. China, India, Austria, and Turkey are prominent in this category, showcasing traditional skills and unique materials tied to specific regions.
GIs for Services are rare, with only four jurisdictions—Brazil, China’s Macao SAR, Serbia, and the US—reporting service-based GIs, indicating a potential area for expansion as service industries explore the benefits of origin-based branding.
Insights on Geographical Indications in India
India’s GI landscape reflects its rich cultural heritage and diversity. As of 2023, India had approximately 530 GIs, with 93.6% being national GIs, underscoring India's focus on protecting indigenous products. Handicrafts represent a significant category in India's GIs, with 274 registrations, emphasizing the cultural and artisanal value associated with these products. Unlike many countries, India relies solely on national legal frameworks, particularly the sui generis system, for GI protection.
Round up
OpenAI Wins Copyright Battle in AI Training Dispute:
On November 7, a US judge dismissed a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI filed by independent publishers Alternet and Raw Story. The lawsuit claimed OpenAI violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by scraping thousands of articles, removing copyright management information (CMI), and using the content to train its models. The publishers sought damages for alleged copyright infringement. OpenAI countered that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing, as they did not provide evidence that their content was used in training or that it caused harm. Judge Colleen McMahon agreed, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a cognizable injury. While the case was dismissed, the judge left room for potential new legal arguments. This ruling may have broader implications for future intellectual property cases involving AI training. (Wired)
Delhi High Court Blocks Aquakind’s Use of 'KIND' in Trademark Battle with Mankind Pharma:
The Delhi High Court recently granted an ex-parte interim injunction, preventing Aquakind Labs LLP from using "KIND" in its trade name “Aquakind” after Mankind Pharma filed a trademark infringement suit. Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled that Mankind had established a prima facie case and would face irreparable harm without the injunction, as the similar trade name could mislead consumers. Mankind argued that “KIND,” a long-standing part of its trademark, is widely recognized in the pharmaceutical industry. The court ordered Aquakind and its associates to cease using the “Aquakind” name. Additionally, the court appointed local commissioners to inspect Aquakind’s premises for products bearing the contested trademark, with instructions to file a report within two weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for March 10, 2025. (Bar and Bench)
Sweden Seeks Trademark to Protect Its Identity:
Sweden has applied to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to trademark its name, aiming to protect its identity and prevent confusion with other locations sharing the same name. With many travellers, especially from the UK, mistakenly heading to towns with similar names, Sweden wants to ensure that those seeking the original destination—famous for its lakes, forests, and iconic design—end up in the right place. Visit Sweden is encouraging global support for the application, which has garnered backing from 35% of Swedes and nearly half of UK travellers aged 20-32. The trademark would help travellers avoid mix-ups and experience true Swedish charm. (Travel Daily News)
Scarecrow Inc. Patents Breakthrough Cardiac Treatment for Dogs:
Scarecrow Incorporated, based in Tokyo, has secured the world’s first patent for Pinfenon (S) (R), a supplement designed to treat and prevent cardiac disorders in dogs, particularly mitral regurgitation. The treatment reduces atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a key cardiac biomarker, lowering heart strain. The supplement, derived from French maritime pine bark, is water-soluble and highly effective, supported by clinical studies showing significant improvements in ANP levels and respiratory difficulty in affected dogs. The patent also covers its manufacturing methods. Scarecrow plans to expand the product’s use in various animal care products, ensuring better protection for dogs at risk of heart disease.(The Wire)
Adeia Sues Disney Over Patent Infringement in Streaming Tech:
Adeia has filed a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, including its subsidiaries Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+, for allegedly infringing on six of its patents related to video streaming technology. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware federal court, claims Disney violated patents covering streaming functionality, episode tracking, cloud data storage, and synchronization processes. Adeia, which owns over 11,500 patents globally, stated it attempted to resolve the matter amicably but was forced to defend its intellectual property. The company seeks damages and a jury trial. Adeia has made licensing agreements with other companies like Cox Communications and Verizon. (The Wrap)
References:
Harris, R. (2024, November 11). Adeia sues Disney over alleged patent infringement in streaming technology. TheWrap. https://www.thewrap.com/disney-lawsuit-hulu-espn-streaming-technology-patents-adeia/
Jamal, U. (2024, November 11). Delhi High Court grants Mankind Pharma relief in trademark infringement case over "Aquakind". Bar & Bench. https://www.barandbench.com/news/delhi-high-court-grants-mankind-pharma-relief-trademark-infringementcase-aquakind
Knibbs, K. (2024, November 8). OpenAI notches legal win as judge dismisses copyright lawsuit over AI training data. WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/opena-alternet-raw-story-copyright-lawsuit-dmca-standing/
PTI. (2024, November 12). Scarecrow Incorporated acquires patent for Pinfenon (S) (R) treatment drug for canine cardiac disorders. The Week. https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/business/2024/11/12/dcm23-scarecrow-incorporated.html
Rokou, T. (2024, November 12). Sweden becomes first country in the world to apply for trademark. Travel Daily News. https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/cvbs/sweden-becomes-first-country-in-the-world-to-apply-for-trademark/
World Intellectual Property Organization. (2024). World intellectual property indicators 2024 (WIPO Publication No. 941). https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-941-2024-en-world-intellectual-property-indicators-2024.pdf