Huawei Tops International Patent Filings in 2014

Chinese telecom giant Huawei led international patent filings in 2014, as the total number of patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty reached a record high of 214,500. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, Huawei applied for 3,442 patents, edging out US chipmaker Qualcomm and Chinese competitor ZTE with 2,409 and 2,179 applications, respectively.

With 61,492 patent applications, the United States was the primary origin of patent applicants ahead of Japan (42,459) and China (25,539). Among the Top 10 filing countries, China was the only country to see double-digit growth in 2014, as the country’s efforts to foster home-grown innovation appear to pay off.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty was concluded in 1970 and went into force in 1978. Its aim is to facilitate the acquisition of patents in multiple regions at once, making the filing of multiple national patent applications obsolete. However, the decision to grant patents remains the prerogative of the national patent offices of the 148 member states and patent rights are limited to the regions where the patent has been granted.