In 2022, overall patent applications slightly decreased by 0.8% to 72,059 cases. Of these, invention patent applications (50,242 cases) grew by 2%, while utility model (14,662 cases) and design patent applications (7,155 cases) decreased by 7%, respectively. For trademark applications, 94,778 cases were filed, covering a total of 122,320 classes. As to examination efficiency, the average first action pendency was 8.8 months for invention patent applications and 5.2 months for trademark applications.

In 2022, invention patent applications (19,400 cases) slightly decreased by 0.8%, mainly due to the declines in filings from individual and research institute sectors. Meanwhile, applications by corporations and educational institutes saw a growth of 1% and 7%, respectively. However, there was a moderate decrease in utility model (13,669 cases) and design applications (3,411 cases) by 6% and 3%, respectively, mainly due to the declines in filings from individuals and corporation sectors, compared to the previous year.

Non-resident applications for invention patents (30,842 cases) grew by 4%, while utility model (993 cases) and design (3,744 cases) patents saw declines (Figure 3).

A breakdown by applicant nationality shows that Japan continued to top the list with 13,128 overall applications (-1% compared to the previous year), followed by the US (8,517 cases, +7%) and mainland China (4,424 cases, +4%), while South Korea (2,775 cases) saw the highest growth at 16% among the top 5 countries. Japan also led in the number of invention and design patent applications, and mainland China surpassed other countries in utility model applications (Figure 4).

The number of trademark applications totaled 94,778 cases (covering 122,320 classes). Notably, there was a 1% increase in resident (74,326 cases) and a 9% decrease in non-resident applications (20,452 cases) (Figure 5, Figure 7).

Among the top 5 trademark-filing countries or regions, mainland China (4,324 cases) took the lead, followed by the US (3,572 cases) and Japan (3,546 cases).Applications numbers filed by mainland China and the US showed double-digit drops, while those from Japan were up 3% compared to last year (Figure 8).

With regard to resident trademark applications, Class 35 (advertisements and business operation) topped the list with 15,220 classes. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted online shopping, remote technology and video games, leading to a 7.5% increase in Class 41 (education; entertainment) and a 2.0% increase in Class 9 (computer and technology) (Figure 11). Regarding non-resident trademark applications, Class 9 led with 4,493 classes (Figure 12).

• Publish Date : 2023-03-10
• Update : 2023-03-10
• Organization : International Legal Affairs Office
• Visitors : 140