IBM tops patent list for 14th time
12 January 2007
From among the top 35 patent winners, IBM, with 3,621, patents surpassed its own record and earned more US patents than any other company, leading over the next closest patent holder by 1,170.
In 2006, 173,772 corporate patents were issued — a US PTO record — and a 20.8 per cent rise over 2005.
IBM has now announced that it would develop and host the "Inventors' Forum," an online initiative to share and debate ideas on how smaller enterprises view patent systems and can contribute to reform efforts such as improved patent quality.
"Smaller companies long have been the 'silent majority' in the invention community," says Andy Gibbs, CEO, PatentCafe, a publisher of IP management software solutions. "The sheer number of patents they generate obscures the fact that they do not have a means to actually collaborate and participate with one voice in the invention system. The Inventors' Forum will empower these companies to voice their ideas for improving the patent system and brainstorm with peers around the world."
"Meaningful patent reform must address the needs of all constituents," said Herbert Wamsley, executive director of the Washington, DC-based Intellectual Property Owners Association.
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