Technology giant IBM has set a new US patent record for 2011, with the company achieving its 19th consecutive year atop an annual list of patent recipients.
IBM inventors earned a record 6,180 US patents in 2011, more than quadrupling Hewlett-Packard’s issuances and exceeding by six times those of Oracle/Sun, IBM said.
More than 8,000 IBMers in 46 US states and 36 countries contributed to the company’s record-breaking 2011 patent tally, as per the IFI CLAIMS 2011 Top 50 US Patent Assignees.
IBM inventors outside the US contributed to more than 26pc of the company’s 2011 patents.
2011 US patent leaders:
1. IBM 6,180
2. Samsung 4,894
3. Canon 2,821
4. Panasonic 2,559
5. Toshiba 2,483
6. Microsoft 2,311
7. Sony 2,286
8. Seiko Epson 1,533
9. Hon Hai 1,514
10. Hitachi 1,465
Data provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services
The more than 6,000 patents IBMers received in 2011 represent a range of inventions that include smarter solutions for retail, banking, healthcare, transportation and other industries.
These patented inventions also span a range of computing technologies poised to support a new generation of more cognitive, intelligent and insight-driven systems, processes and infrastructures for smarter commerce, shopping, medicine, transportation, and more, IBM said.
“IBM’s commitment to invention and scientific exploration is unmatched in any industry and the results of this dedication to enabling innovation is evidenced in our nearly two decades of US patent leadership,” said Ken King, general manager, Intellectual Property and vice-president, Research Business Development, IBM.
“The inventions we patent each year deliver significant value to IBM, our clients and partners and demonstrate a measurable return on our approximately US$6bn annual investment in research and development,” King added.
