The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) publishes its “World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI)” report every year, offering essential insights into global trends in technological competitiveness and industrial structures. The 2024 edition shows that filings for patents, trademarks, and industrial designs all remained at high levels, with China’s strong presence particularly standing out. This article examines the key findings and the trends behind them.
Patent Filings Reach a Record High
Global patent filings in 2024 rose to 3.7 million—the highest ever—marking a solid 4.9% increase from the previous year. Several points deserve attention:
China’s Overwhelming Lead
- China: 1.8 million (approx. 49% of global filings)
- United States: 500,000
- Japan: 410,000
- South Korea: 290,000
- Germany: 130,000
China continues to hold an unshakable position as the world’s leading “patent powerhouse,” further widening the gap with the U.S. and Japan.
“Computer Technology” Tops the Technology Fields
Among published patents, “computer technology” accounted for the largest share at 13.2%, followed by electrical machinery, measurement technology, digital communication, and medical technology.
This clearly reflects the global momentum of growth areas such as AI, IoT, cloud computing, and semiconductors.
Trademark Filings Show Signs of Recovery, but Differences Across Countries Are Large
Trademark filings totaled 15.2 million, down only 0.1%, suggesting that filings are recovering after two years of slowdown.
China Dominates with 7.3 Million Filings
Nearly half of all trademark filings worldwide come from China, indicating that Chinese companies increasingly recognize the importance of brand protection.
Followed by the U.S., Russia, India, and Brazil
The numbers reflect the strong brand power of U.S. companies and the expanding markets of emerging economies like India and Brazil.
Because trademarks mirror the breadth of corporate activity, the data suggests these economies remain highly dynamic.
Industrial Designs: China Again Tops the World
Global design filings rose 2.2% to 1.6 million. China also ranked first here:
- China: 900,000
- Germany: 70,000
- United States: 66,000
- Italy: 63,000
- South Korea: 60,000
The top five countries alone account for about three-quarters of global filings, indicating a high concentration.
Why China Excels
Industrial designs relate to product design, UI design, and the appearance of manufactured goods. China’s strength is rooted in active “everyday-life industries,” such as:
- Smart home appliances
- Smartphones and wearables
- Furniture and consumer goods
China’s competitiveness in these markets is directly reflected in the figures.
Why Is China So Dominant?
China ranked first across all three categories—patents, trademarks, and designs. Several factors explain this dominance:
A Massive Domestic Market
A population of 1.4 billion increases the value of IP-based differentiation.
Strong Government Support for IP
Policies to protect IP rights and subsidy programs have been in place for years.
A Robust Startup and Manufacturing Ecosystem
Industries with strong demand for IP—AI, IT, consumer electronics—are deeply rooted.
A Growing Focus on International Competitiveness
As Chinese companies expand globally, they actively secure trademarks and design rights abroad.
What Should Japan Make of These Trends?
Japan remains the world’s third-largest patent filer, but its filing volume continues to lag behind China and the U.S.
However, Japanese companies are widely regarded as filing high-quality patents, maintaining a traditional “quality over quantity” approach.
Still, several areas require close attention:
- Structural transformation in mobility (EVs, software-defined vehicles)
- Dependence on semiconductors and the need to maintain manufacturing infrastructure
- Strengthening capabilities in medical and biotechnology fields
How Japan develops proactive IP strategies in these sectors will significantly affect future competitiveness.
Intellectual Property as a “Mirror” of National Strength and Industry Structure
The 2024 WIPO report reveals:
- China’s IP activity continues to lead the world
- Digital-related technologies—computer tech, electrical machinery, etc.—dominate globally
- Trademarks and designs show the breadth and dynamism of corporate activity
Intellectual property is not merely a legal制度 but a crucial indicator of a nation’s industrial competitiveness.
Looking ahead, fields such as AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology are expected to grow even further in 2025 and beyond, making global IP strategies more important than ever.