WIPO ISSUES REPORT ON PCT FILINGS: With all the focus lately on US patent filings, WIPO issued a report today on the number of international patent filings being made by individual countries and corporations. Specifically, the study found that east-Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea and China accounted for the largest jump in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings anywhere in the world:

“The rate of growth from Japan, Republic of Korea and China continues to be exceptional, reflecting the rapidly expanding technological strength of those countries. Since 2000, the number of applications from Japan, Republic of Korea, and China, has risen by 162%, 200% and 212%, respectively,” said Mr. Francis Gurry, WIPO Deputy Director General who oversees the work of the PCT.

More notably, the Republic of Korea overtook the Netherlands as the 6th biggest user of PCT applications and China dislodged Canada, Italy and Australia to take the position of 10th largest PCT user. In 2005, over 134,000 PCT applications were filed, representing a 9.4% increase over the previous year.

Furthermore, WIPO issued a list of companies recognized as "top PCT filiers." The top ten include:

1 (NL) KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. - 2492
2 (JP) MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. - 2021
3 (DE) SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT - 1402
4 (FI) NOKIA CORPORATION - 898
5 (DE) ROBERT BOSCH GMBH - 843
6 (US) INTEL CORPORATION - 691
7 (DE) BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT - 656
8 (US) 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY - 603
9 (US) MOTOROLA, INC. - 580
10 (DE) DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG - 567

Interestingly, only 10 U.S. companies appear in the top-25, and IBM, who has consistently maintained the no. 1 U.S. patent filer position in the U.S. for the last 13 years, ranks 22nd in PCT filings.

See report here.