According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, inventors from China and South Korea are filing more patents for inventions than ever before (AP). “South Korea overtook France to come fourth behind Germany (27,731) and Japan (18,134) on the patent ladder.” Per the WIPO:
“The growth in patent filings by a number of countries in north east Asia and their share of overall patenting activity is impressive and confirms shifting patterns of innovation around the world,” said Kamil Idris, director-general of the Geneva-based agency.
This may mean that IP law issues will grow in popularity more so (?).
Footnote: Here is an interesting blog on IP issues as well.
3 Comments
Somehow ironic that China is trying to protect THEIR IP.
Eh… it doesn’t mean that Koreans or Chinese are being any more creative or ingenious as anyone else. These engineers chained to their cubicles are filing patents for components and subcomponents ad finitum…
This doesnt mean anything. How many patents do Japanese conglomerates have uselessly piling up and never used. They do much research but do not bring all their new inventions to market.
China also invented gunpowder and is notable for doing nothing with it. Meanwhile Europeans immediately used it to kill eachother in greater numbers and eventually conquer the world.
Innovation/invention without a new application is meaningless. Much of East Asian innovation falls into this category…