The LEHMAN, Lee & Xu
China Patents Newsletter keeps you up to date on recent developments in China Patents law and news
Chinese Companies Embracing International Patents
New Data Released by the World Intellectual Property Organization indicates that Chinese companies are continuing a trend of increasing patent filings. The data tracks patents filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), an international treaty that establishes a system of patent filing and protection worldwide. These are not simply patents filed in China by Chinese companies. This represents a shift in Chinese companies which are now seeking protection for their patents abroad.
China Telecom giant Huawei filed for 3,898 patents in 2015. It was the world’s largest patent filer under the PCT. Coming in second, though still far behind Huawui, is the USA based Qualcomm, while third was ZTE, a Chinese competitor of Huawei.
As Chinese companies are increasingly doing business globally, they are in turn seeing the value in international patent filings. The push comes from dual official goals to increase Chinese companies’ investments abroad, and to increase China indigenous innovation.
This increase in Patent filings shows that Chinese companies are capable of invention and innovation. However it remains to be seen whether these patents will translate into technology breakthroughs and market changing new products.
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