WIPO: International Patent, Trademark and Design Filings All Register Growth in 2024

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s latest released data showed that international patent, trademark, and design applications filed with its global IP registries all registered growth in 2024. Specifically, designs contained in design applications filed with the Hague System rose by 6.8% year-on-year, patent applications filed through Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) by 0.5%, and trademark applications using the Madrid System by 1.2%.

International patent applications

In 2024, PCT filings reached 273,900, a 0.5% increase compared to 2023. China, submitting 70,160 applications, remained the top country of origin, and was followed by the US (54,087 applications), Japan (48,397), Korea (23,851), and Germany (16,721).

Huawei Technologies of China was the top filer of PCT applications in 2024, with 6,600 published applications, followed by Samsung Electronics of Korea (4,640 applications), Qualcomm of the US (3,848), LG Electronics of Korea (2,083), and Contemporary Amperex Technology of China (1,993).

In 2024, the leading field in published PCT applications was digital communication, representing 10.5% of the total. This surpassed computer technology (9.7%), which had held the top spot since 2019. Other prominent fields included electrical machinery (8.6%), medical technology (6.5%), and measurement (4.4%).

International trademark applications

After two consecutive years of decline, international trademark applications filed under WIPO’s Madrid System, totaling 65,000 applications, returned to growth in 2024, with a 1.2% increase compared to 2023. The top country of origin was the US (11,270 applications), followed by Germany (6,449), China (5,828), France (4,211), and the UK (3,736).

In 2024, L'Oréal of France, submitting 244 filings, maintained its leading position in Madrid applications for the fourth consecutive year. Following L'Oréal were Novartis AG of Switzerland (193 applications), Euro Games Technology of Bulgaria (141 applications), Shiseido Company of Japan (124), and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH of Germany (106).

The most specified class in international trademark applications in 2024 covered computer hardware and software and other electrical or electronic apparatus, accounting for 10.8% of the total. Following it were business services (8.4%) and scientific and technological services (7.8%).

International design applications

WIPO's Hague System for the international protection of industrial designs saw a record filing of 27,161 designs in 2024, representing a 6.8% year-on-year increase and growth for the fourth consecutive year. By country of origin, China was the leading filer, with 4,870 designs, followed by Germany (4,218 designs), the US (3,034), Italy (2,249), and Switzerland (2,109).

Procter & Gamble of the US, with 641 published designs in applications, took the lead in design filings in 2024, displacing last year's top flier Samsung Electronics of Korea, which dropped to sixth place with 118 fewer designs filed in 2024, totaling 426. Other top filers include Porsche AG of Germany (506 designs), LG Electronics of Korea (459), Ferrari SPA of Italy (442), and Huawei Technologies of China (431).

The largest share of total designs in 2024 was in recording and communication equipment (12.3%), followed by means of transport (11.1%), packages and containers (7.9%), furnishings (7.6%), and household goods (5%).