The End of a Patent Dynasty, IBM has been Dethroned

IBM is no longer King of the Patent World! 
Samsung now reigns supreme.

US Patents for 2016 by Fortune by IFI Claims Patent Services. IBM #1 with 8,052 patents issued. Samsung Electronics Co Lmt with 5,518. But, a better measure would have IBM coming in second in 2016, and even in 2015!... 

The other approach that consolidates related companies here, or more directly from Sqoop here.   IBM #2 when Samsung has more patents collectively with 8,551 issued in 2016.
In terms of patent applications, 

In terms of patent applications, Samsung really beats out IBM:

• Samsung -- 10,695
• International Business Machines Corporation -- 8,800

Samsung is way ahead of #2 Microsoft in Design Patents with ~1,500 vs. ~500. IBM is not in to the top 40 in terms of US design patents (as would be expected for the type of products (services, really) that they produce.

Wow, no 25 year run for IBM. A questionable 24 year run through 2016. And arguably, not even a 23 year.

Stronger Chinese Patent Laws Also Help U.S. Companies - WSJ

Stronger Chinese Patent Laws Also Help U.S. Companies - WSJ:

China is blasting past the USA in the patent world. They have already been the most busy patent office in the world for several years.

But now they are the office with the most issued patents: 359,000 issues, up 45% from 2014. WoW!

And we, in the USA are down 1% to below 300k.

Interesting that they pay up to $4,500 (30,000 yuan) for patents. That's probably more than full reimbursement for the full patent costs in China. People could make money by taking patent applications elsewhere (non PCT) and file them in China. And, that's apparently what people did. It seems that the motive to get paid the government subsidies for issued patents would incentivate a nice bribery market.

China first stepped into the world of intellectual property in 1985 when joining the World Trade Organization.

Many foreign companies are able to sue, successfully, in China. But, of course, they would only sue once they knew they have a clear-cut case and inspected the political landscape.

I still think that part of the massive move to China for IP is to help cut off the infringers at both ends of the product pirating pipeline from China to USA/EU/Japan: manufacture, distributor/exporter, retailer, and seller.

"Serious obstacles" of IP in China for foreign companies by the State Department is, by all measures an understatement. However, there seems to be progress.

Note that this article is more complete than the one printed in the paper.

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The Refractive Thinker® Radio Show: Trademark, Patents, and Perpetual Innovation 07/07 by Cheryl Kulikowski Lentz | Entrepreneur Podcasts

The Refractive Thinker® Radio Show: Trademark, Patents, and Perpetual Innovation 07/07 by Cheryl Kulikowski Lentz | Entrepreneur Podcasts:
(30 minute broadcast on BlogTalkRadio.)
This is an interview with Dr. Elmer Hall about Intellectual Property and the types of information included in the Patent Primer 3.0.

Hall talks about the basic processes that entrepreneurs can take to capitalize on Intellectual Property (IP). This interview is an excellent overview of that the approaches that creators and inventors should consider in bringing IP protection to their creative efforts.

The books (and eBooks) in the Perpetual Innovation(tm) series are:

Hall, E. B. & Hinkelman, R. M. (2013). Perpetual Innovation™: A guide to strategic
planning, patent commercialization and enduring competitive advantage, Version
2.0. Morrisville, NC: LuLu Press. ISBN: 978-1-304-11687-1  Retrieved from: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/SBPlan

Hall, E. B. & Hinkelman, R. M. (2015). Perpetual Innovation™: Patent primer 3.0:
Patents, the great equalizer of our time! An overview of intellectual property
for inventors and entrepreneurs. Morrisville, NC: LuLu Press. ISBN: 978-1-329-17833-5  Retrieved from: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/SBPlan

Hall, E. B. & Hinkelman, R. M. (2015). Perpetual Innovation™: Patent primer 3.0e:
Patents, the great equalizer of our time! An overview of intellectual property
with patenting cost estimates for inventors and entrepreneurs.  [Amazon Kindle eBook].  ASIN: B010ISU7ZG  Retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010ISU7ZG   

Hall, E. B. & Hinkelman, R. M. (2015). Perpetual Innovation™: Innovator’s  primer 3.0: The basics on intellectual property protection for the creator and inventor.  Morrisville, NC: LuLu Press.  ISBN: 978-1-329-23954-8  Retrieved from: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/SBPlan  

Hall, E. B. & Hinkelman, R. M. (2015). Perpetual Innovation™: Innovator’s  primer 3.0e: The basics on intellectual property protection for the creator and inventor.   [Amazon Kindle eBook].  ASIN: B0115BG35I  Retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0115BG35I   

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Revenue Per Patent A Longstanding Question of Value for Many

In the world of IP, there is a list of questions that never seem to be answered to the satisfaction of all particularly when there is generational change in who is running the corporation.  Foremost among the questions is what is the revenue per patent and is it worth the time, energy and resources that must be applied not only for a patent but protect in the marketplace from infringement that may result in costly litigation.  IAM presents 20 corporations with extensive patent portfolios and the revenues per patent at  http://www.iam-media.com/blog/detail.aspx?g=d37195bc-4870-406d-81cc-f9e74c6e17b8.  Among the points worth noting is that Apple has the least number of patents among the 20, but blows all away in the revenue it realizes for each patent.

All of those listed make sizable revenues.  It is clear that the effort to patent from beginning to end is of demonstrable value to the corporation.

IBM and China. #1 in the world of Patents

IBM is again the patent king with the most patents issued. Now just under 6,500 issued in a single year. That's issued, not applications.


IBM

•Celebrated 101 years since its first patent

•In 2012 was its 20th year as most US patents

•In 2012 received 6,478 patents! (not applications!)

•Spent $6B on R&D  … roughly $1m per patent.

•IBM makes $1B+ per year on IP sales/licensing!
=> That is almost pure profit$!

This is a fun article about the big patent companies and IBM's Watson system beating out the best and the brightest on the show Jeopardy. 

In the meanwhile, China has moved up to the busiest patent office in the world! It was only a couple years ago that they were 5th and not long prior to that they they were not a signatory on IP treaties!..