WIPO reports growth for all its IP registries in 2024

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has reported that its global intellectual property (IP) registries, covering patents, trade marks and designs, all saw growth in the number of registrations in 2024, as enterprises and individuals increased their use of WIPO systems to protect and promote their products in foreign markets.

WIPO has just released the latest statistics. These show that:

• designs filed with the Hague System (International Design System) increased by 6.8% in 2024;

• international patent applications filed through WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (International Patent System) increased by 0.5%.

• And reversing two consecutive years of decline, WIPO’s Madrid System for the International Registration of Trademarks (International Trademark System) saw a 1.2% increase in filing activity.

Introducing the figures for 2024, WIPO Director General Daren Tang pointed out that “WIPO is unique amongst UN agencies in providing services directly to the private sector: Our international IP registries help innovative individuals and enterprises around the world move their IP across borders and expand into new markets.”

He added: “As demand for our services increases, we will continue to focus on being even more customer centred and efficient for our clients, so as to continue bringing value to innovators all over the world.”

Patent Cooperation Treaty

WIPO reports that in 2024, the total number of PCT filings reached 273,900, a 0.5% increase compared to 2023.

China remained the top source, submitting 70,160 applications, followed by the US (54,087 applications), Japan (48,397), the Republic of Korea (23,851) and Germany (16,721)

While China returned to growth (+0.9%), the US, Japan and Germany experienced declines of 2.8%, 1.2%, and 1.3%, respectively. This marks the third consecutive year of decrease for the US, and the second for both Germany and Japan.

In contrast, the Republic of Korea saw strong growth of 7.1% - its 27th successive year of growth.

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

International trademark system (Madrid System)

After two consecutive years of decline, the total number of international trade mark applications filed under WIPO’s Madrid System returned to growth in 2024, which saw 65,000 applications, a 1.2% increase compared to 2023.

US-based applicants (11,270 applications) filed the largest number of international trademark applications, followed by those located in Germany (6,449), China (5,828), France (4,211) and the UK (3,736).

L'Oréal of France was the company filing the most Madrid applications for the fourth year running, with a total of 244 filings in 2024. Next was Novartis AG of Switzerland with 193 applications, then Euro Games Technology of Bulgaria (141 applications), Shiseido Company of Japan (124) and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH of Germany (106).

The most popular class -- the one specified in the largest number of international applications received by WIPO -- covers computer hardware and software and other electrical or electronic apparatus, accounting for 10.8% of the 2024 total. Next class was business services (8.4%) and then scientific and technological services (7.8%).

International design system (Hague System)

The number of applications under WIPO's Hague System for the international protection of industrial designs in 2024 reached an all-time high of 27,161 designs.

This represents a 6.8% increase, with 2024 being the fourth consecutive year of growth for the Hague System.

Chinese companies and individuals filed 4,870 designs, followed by Germany (4,218 designs), the US (3,034), Italy (2,249) and Switzerland (2,109).

China's overall growth is largely attributable to a substantial increase in filings by Huawei Technologies, which submitted an additional 387 designs in 2024 compared to 2023.

Procter & Gamble of the US has taken the lead in design filings, with 641 published designs in applications in 2024. Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea, last year's top filer, which dropped to sixth place after filing 118 fewer designs in 2024, totalling 426. Other top filers include Porsche AG of Germany with 506 designs, LG Electronics of the Republic of Korea with 459, Ferrari SPA of Italy with 442 and Huawei Technologies of China with 431.

Four car companies – Ferrari SPA, Porsche AG, Volkswagen AG (Germany) and Stellantis Auto (France) – ranked among the top 10 applicants for design filings in 2024.

WIPO is a United Nations agency that serves the world’s innovators and creators by helping them protect their ideas globally and by promoting intellectual property, IP rights, and IP education.