WIPO has published its annual report World Intellectual Property Indicators 2013 on intellectual property (IP) filing statistics and related trends around the world in 2012. The report claims that in 2012 global patent filings increased at their strongest rate in nearly two decades, while design registration had its highest recorded rate of growth. More specifically, the report states that patent filings grew by 9.2% (2.35 million applications) (compared with 7.8% in 2011), and designs by 17% (compared with 16% in 2011). Trade mark filings fared less well, increasing by 6% following 13.3% growth in 2011. China appears to be the driver behind the increases, reflected by the claim in the report that, for the first time, China was the highest ranked country for both the source (filings by China) and the destination (filed in China) for patents, utility models, trade marks and designs, with China's State IP Office registering a 24% increase in filings. Following China among the top 20 IP offices, New Zealand saw the fastest growth in filings (14.3%), followed by the offices of Mexico (9%), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (7.8%), and the Russian Federation (6.8%). Brazil (5.1%), India (3.9%) and South Africa (2.7%) also reported growth in filings. Filing behaviour in Europe showed mixed trends; the European Patent Office (4%) and the offices of Germany (3.2%) and the UK (4.4%) showed growth. In contrast, the offices of France (-0.7%) and Italy (-4.2%) received fewer applications in 2012 than in 2011.

Sources: WIPO report and press release, 9 December 2013.