Patents are innovation thermometers, but also business strategy. That means that the same number of patents in Europe are not registered as in the United States or in Asia. And that makes it difficult to determine a clear winner, because it will depend on the continent and whether they are repeated or not. But to open mouth, The gold medal is disputed by Samsung and Huawei. Let’s go with the explanations.
The difference in the number of patents registered by the same company in the US Patent Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) is due to strategic, legal and economic factors. For example, US companies focus on the USPT because the value of their creations and demands is protected, the value is much higher. In the United States, little concrete ideas or software are accepted and even provisional patentsthe costs are lower and the registration process is much easier than in Europe.
Huawei and Samsung focus on the OEP (Europe) to cover markets with strong manufacturing (Germany, France), despite the fact that the strictest requirements (patents must demonstrate “technical effect”, there are only abstract ideas) and A rigorous innovation exam is performed … there is a higher rejections rate.
The Chinese manufacturer records more patent in the EPO because Europe is key to its 5G infrastructure, While Apple prioritizes the USPT because its litigation with Samsung (2011-2017) showed that the US is critical to protect designs.
Now, we go with the figures. The average in recent years indicates that Samsung registered about 6,165 (USPT) And close of 4,300 In the European Patent Office (EPO). In this way, the total patents would be More than 10,000, only in this figure there are many that are repeated in both offices (EU and the US). The most logical figure would be that of Europe, taking into account its requirements to grant patents.
Huawei, meanwhile, has registered almost 4,000 patents in the United States and more than 4,700 in Europe. The total figure is lower than that of Samsung, but if we only count European patents (not to repeat and with the spirit of innovation and real products), Huawei is something above.
What happens to Apple? It does not reach 4,500 in both offices patent. On the other hand, if we go to more specific offices, In China (CNIPA – National Intellectual Property Administration), 50% of patents are presented And the leader is Huawei with almost 7,000, while at the South Korean office La Kipo (Korean Intellectual Property Office), notes that Samsung presented approximately 8,120 patents (absolute leader in Korea).
In this way, Asia dominates patents, with Samsung (Korea) and Huawei (China) lead, with 60% global patents in telecommunications.
Now, if we go to specific sectors, Samsung stands out in patents linked to solid state battery and fast chargingin screens and in integration of NPUS (neuronal processing units) in exynos.
Huawei, meanwhile, is a leader in innovation in Ultra -grape load, 5g world leader and in use of AI in photography. It is also one of the most patent presents linked to audio. And all this taking into account the veto of the United States to the Chinese manufacturer.
Apple, meanwhile, leads in sustainability patents, while The company that has grown the most is Xiaomi that It has passed from 2,300 in 2021 to more than 3100.