Huawei currently holds 50,377 patents related to 4G networks, operating systems, and key smartphone technology. (image: Wikimedia)
SEOUL, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) – Huawei’s recent patent lawsuit against Samsung Electronics came as a surprise. The suit is a major counterattack by a company that was once considered a latecomer to the mobile device market.
As a matter of fact, the number of Chinese patent applications has maintained a double-digit increase in recent years. Huawei, in particular, has filed the most patent applications in the world for last two years.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the total number of patent applications through the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) in 2015 was 218,000, led by the U.S. (57,835), which has maintained the lead for the past 38 years.
Ranking second was Japan (44,235), followed by China (29,846), Germany (18,072), and Korea (14,626). China surpassed Germany back in 2013.
As a matter of fact, the number of Chinese patent applications has maintained a double-digit increase in recent years. (image: WIPO)
The total number of patent applications has increased by 1.7 percent since 2014. China however, showed an exceptional increase of 16.8 percent, continuing its near-20 percent annual increase in patent applications.
Korea showed an increase of 11.5 percent, compared to 4.4 percent for Japan and 0.5 percent for Germany. The U.S., on the other hand, actually saw a decrease of 6.7 percent.
Four Chinese companies have claimed spots on the list of the top 20 PCT applicants: Huawei (1st), ZTE (3rd), BOE (14th), and Tencent (20th). Huawei filed a total of 3,898 patent applications, surpassing the second-place Qualcomm by a wide margin.
Huawei currently holds 50,377 patents related to 4G networks, operating systems, and key smartphone technology. Tech giant Apple even signed a cross-licensing agreement with Huawei, and pays the Chinese company millions of dollars in annual royalties.
Four Chinese companies have claimed spots on the list of the top 20 PCT applicants: Huawei (1st), ZTE (3rd), BOE (14th), and Tencent (20th). (image: WIPO)
Such growth of Chinese companies is mainly attributed to China’s economic development and technological innovations from intensive R&D investment. Companies that once struggled with lawsuits from global enterprises now have a foundation to stand on, and are fighting back.
Filing patent applications before one’s competitors can be used as a critical asset in business expansion, and also act as a weapon to hold enemies in check. And although quantity doesn’t necessarily guarantee quality, the number of patents alone can play a powerful role, especially when it comes to lawsuits.
“By securing more patents as a company, you have a greater advantage in both offensive and defensive strategies,” says Song Sang-yeop, chief of intellectual property agency at the Korea Invention Promotion Association.
By Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
