According to the statistics from the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), European Patent Office (EPO) and Japan Patent Office (JPO), Chinese invention patent applications to the three offices has been enjoyed a high increase in 2007. 

 

In 2007, a total of 4,141 Chinese invention patent applications were filed to USPTO, 9.9% more than that in 2006; a total of 1,136 Chinese applications, over 1,000 at the first time, were filed to EPO, a dramatic increase of 58.0% compared to the previous year; and 656 were filed to JPO, representing an increase of 29.9%. At the same period, the applications received by USPTO and EPO increased 6.0% and 3.7% respectively, while the application received by JPO decreased 3.0%. In addition, the growth of applications from China in USA, Europe and Japan is also much higher than from other nations.

 

Regarding the application channels, two thirds of Chinese patent applications overseas are filed through PCT system, indicating PCT has become the key channel for Chinese innovation main bodies to obtain overseas patent protection. 

 

PCT overseas filings in China have continued its rapid growth over the past few years. The year of 2007 witnessed a total of over 5,400 applications from China, enabling China to be the 7th largest overseas PCT filing country.

 

As these applications have entered the national examination period, it is sure that the Chinese invention patent applications in some big patent countries and regions will see an increase trend in the next few years, representing that the Chinese independent innovation capacity has been dramatically improved, and the IP awareness of the innovation main bodies to participate international competition has been upgraded gradually, as well as the support from government has begun playing an important role.

 

 

                                                                                                                      (SIPO)

2008-03-11