What Company Owns the Most Patents?
What company owns the most patents? The answer varies depending on the sector. In 2014, Japanese firms filed more patents per firm than did European or North American firms. Asian firms are rising to the top, particularly in the consumer electronics sector. The U.S. has made a comeback in this sector. Here are some of the most notable firms. The list also includes IBM, Canon, Samsung, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.
Canon
According to IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, Canon Inc., the parent company of Canon U.S.A., Inc., has the third most U.S. patents in 2021. The company is also the only Japanese company to rank among the top five in this category for 36 straight years. While acquiring patents in the U.S. is important for the company’s business, it also pays close attention to acquiring them in Japan as well.
In addition to its outstanding record for granting patents, Canon is actively promoting the acquisition of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and has been making efforts to expand its patent portfolio in the United States. With many high-tech companies and a large market, Canon values patents in the U.S. Canon is working to make great strides in four new businesses. The company plans to focus on next-generation imaging, smart mobility, healthcare and the digital camera market.
While the company has been mining the IP value of its patents, it is also looking to transfer this value to startups. Canon has assigned 20 US patent assets to the LOT Network, with 16 of them going to startups in the US. These startups include Enplug (Culver City, California), Adaptant Solutions (Munich, Germany), and the LOT Network. All five companies have patented technology and are members of the LOT Network.
Samsung
The largest Korean company is the most prolific patent owner, with over 200,000 issued and pending patents in more than 200 countries. Samsung has a long history of inventing products, and the company has made thousands of breakthroughs in several emerging technology sectors. This includes thin film technology and solar cells. In fact, Samsung owns more patents than any other company, and the number keeps rising each year. Read on to find out why Samsung is so successful.
While many companies focus on the Apple lawsuit, the biggest US company may be trying to level the playing field by owning the most patents. The company is currently facing a lawsuit from Apple and other U.S. companies and may seek to level the playing field by purchasing some of Apple’s patents. In addition to its patent portfolio, Samsung is a major R&D spender and uses patents to protect its intellectual property from competitors and patent trolls. Patent trolls aren’t actually manufacturers; they only sue companies for using non-existent technologies.
Although Samsung has a number of business areas in the United States, the majority of its patents are centered on the mobile industry. This makes it a prime candidate for a lawsuit against Apple. Apple has also been accused of patent infringement by Samsung in 2012, but that decision was unanimously overturned last year. The company’s relentless focus on innovation and patents has helped it dominate the smartphone market. With its high-quality, cost-efficient technology, Samsung is becoming the best-known mobile phone maker.
IBM
IBM owns more patents than any other technology company, with over 110,000 in its portfolio. The company has a fluctuating stock market value, but has been a leading innovator in many fields. Recently, IBM announced that it was a founding partner of the Open COVID Pledge, an initiative that grants the public access to patents and patent applications. That’s a lot of intellectual property, and it’s important that it stays protected.
For the past two decades, IBM has led U.S. companies in patents. In 2016, IBM received a record 8,088 patents, a 9% decline from the previous year. The company is also working on innovations to address major global challenges, including climate change and preventing future pandemics. Its energy security initiatives are also important, and it is focused on securing our food supply. By combining artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, IBM is becoming a leader in innovation.
IBM’s patent portfolio has a long history of success, but critics have said that it restricts innovation and discourages new ideas. This has led the company to harvest patents it doesn’t use commercially, which blocks other companies from pursuing the same ideas. IBM insists that it will eventually work on the ideas behind those patents. The company’s website lists all patents and explains the licensing process.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM)
Among the largest semiconductor companies, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), is one with the highest number of patents, with more than 2,000. Most of these patents are in the US, but Taiwan holds the second place with 8,837 patents. TSMC is the second largest holder of US patents, and it has filed over 5,000 through the European Patent Office (EPO). The company has a large customer base, including big US companies.
It has also ranked second in the list of most patents in the semiconductor industry, behind US supplier Applied Materials Inc. with a total of 652 patent applications, including 615 invention patents, six utility model patents and 31 design-related patents. In third place were three Japanese companies, Nitto Denko Corp. and Tokyo Electron Ltd., with 461 and 338 respectively. Eight Taiwanese banks rounded out the top 100 domestic patent applicants.
TSMC’s success at patenting its innovations has made it the world’s largest contract chipmaker. In 2019, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. filed a total of 1,096 patent applications, up 78 percent from the year before. The company is also aggressively pursuing advanced technologies, with its 5-nanometer process currently entering mass production and a new 2nm process slated to enter the market in the second half of 2019.
Weder
Don Weder has the most patents out of any person in history. His father invented an ecologically friendly corsage container. He also created the equipment needed to create them. Other inventions by his father include the folding Christmas tree and an aerosol can. Though he passed away in 1987, his sister Wanda runs Highland Supply. His two sons also play an active role in the company. And, what’s so amazing about his dad? He didn’t just come up with a great idea, he patented it.
Don Weder was born in 1947 in Highland, Illinois. As the president of Highland Supply Corporation, he developed countless products for the florist industry. He also invented Plastifoil and Florist Foil, decorative wrappers, and flexible packaging. Weder is also one of the most prolific inventors in the United States, surpassing Thomas Edison in the number of patents he has earned. His innovations have contributed significantly to the preservation of the environment.
Qualcomm
When it comes to patents, Qualcomm is one of the most valuable companies. This technology company, whose stock is worth $85 billion, is ranked 130th among Fortune 500 companies. Qualcomm began in 1985 and turned around its fortunes with the mass adoption of the CDMA telecommunications standard in 1990. Over the years, the company has developed numerous technologies that are useful for consumers and businesses, from processors to mobile computing and WiFi technology. Its patent portfolio is large, with over 16000 patents.
Its licensing model is a key driver of the wireless ecosystem. These licensing agreements are based on FRAND commitments, which are intended to foster a vibrant IP ecosystem and encourage the development of foundational innovations. Patent holders make FRAND commitments whenever they share their technology or contribute to standards. In other words, Qualcomm is helping the industry innovate and compete. Qualcomm’s licensing program has a history of success, and the future of the company depends on it.
Qualcomm’s portfolio is particularly strong when it comes to IoT, as many of its patents relate to the collection and transmission of data from IoT devices. The company’s patent portfolio contains many technologies used in chipsets to connect IoT devices to the internet. For example, the IoT unit of Qualcomm made $651 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2016, while the IoT unit of Intel generated $1 billion in revenue from chips.
