The World Organization for intellectual Property (WIPO/OMPI) has recently published an updated summary of international patent applications (so-called PCT applications) filed in the past year. In 2024, a total of 273,900 PCT applications were recorded – a slight increase of 0.5% compared to the previous year.
China remains the leader with 70,160 applications (25.6% of all PCT applications), followed by the USA (54,087, 19.7%) and Japan (48,397, 17.7%). Germany also ranks among the top five countries with 16,721 applications. The growth in South Korea (+7.1%) and Finland (+30.1%) compared to 2023 is particularly noteworthy.
Even though these figures have some informative significance, as it is common practice worldwide to maximize statutory deadlines through international patent applications, they do not provide a direct reflection of corporate patent activity in the different countries. For example, if a German company is only interested in obtaining patent protection in Germany and Europe or in the USA and China, we often recommend, particularly to avoid additional costs, filing direct priority follow-up applications only in the desired target countries instead of a PCT application. However, making such a recommendation requires an individual analysis of the specific circumstances and the economic interests of the client.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the patent attorneys at our firm at any time.
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