On March 17, 2025, a press release has been issued about the Use of WIPO’s Global IP Registries for Patents, Trademarks and Designs.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has reported a significant increase in global intellectual property (IP) registrations in 2024, highlighting a renewed commitment by businesses and innovators to protect their patents, trademarks, and industrial designs worldwide.
Despite ongoing global economic uncertainties, WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), Madrid System for international trademarks, and Hague System for industrial designs all experienced growth, demonstrating the resilience and importance of IP protection in an increasingly competitive market.
Patent Filings: China continues to Lead, while the U.S. faces decline
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which facilitates international patent protection, recorded 273,900 filings in 2024, marking a 0.5% increase from 2023.
Top Patent Filing Countries (PCT Applications in 2024)
China: 70,160 applications (+0.9%)
United States: 54,087 applications (-2.8%)
Japan: 48,397 applications (-1.2%)
South Korea: 23,851 applications (+7.1%)
Germany: 16,721 applications (-1.3%)
China remained the largest source of PCT filings, reinforcing its dominance in global innovation. Meanwhile, the United States experienced its third consecutive year of decline, as did Japan and Germany. In contrast, South Korea continued its remarkable 27-year streak of growth, increasing filings by 7.1%.
Top Corporate Patent Filers
Among businesses, Huawei Technologies led the rankings with 6,600 published applications, followed by:
Samsung Electronics (South Korea): 4,640 applications
Qualcomm (United States): 3,848 applications
LG Electronics (South Korea): 2,083 applications
Contemporary Amperex Technology (China): 1,993 applications
Notably, Samsung Electronics saw the fastest growth, adding 716 new patent applications in 2024, while Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) recorded a decline of 196 applications.
The University of California retained its top spot in the education sector, with 519 published applications, followed by the University of Texas System (216 applications) and Tsinghua University (188 applications, China).
Top Patent Sectors in 2024
Digital Communication (10.5%) – Surpassing Computer Technology for the first time
Computer Technology (9.7%)
Electrical Machinery (8.6%)
Medical Technology (6.5%)
Measurement Technology (4.4%)
The rise of digital communication patents (+9.9%) and electrical machinery (+7.9%) reflects the increasing importance of AI, 5G, and smart technology innovations.
Trademark filings: A rebound after two years of decline
Following two years of contraction, WIPO’s Madrid System for the International Registration of Trademarks rebounded in 2024, growing by 1.2% to 65,000 applications.
Top Trademark Filing Countries (Madrid Applications in 2024)
United States: 11,270 applications (+2.5%)
Germany: 6,449 applications (-)
China: 5,828 applications (+6.3%)
France: 4,211 applications (-)
United Kingdom: 3,736 applications (-)
China’s 6.3% growth highlights the increasing value Chinese businesses place on global brand protection. South Korea led all countries in Madrid System growth, increasing by 12.1%.
Top Trademark Filers
L’Oréal (France) remained the top applicant for the fourth consecutive year, with 244 filings.
Novartis (Switzerland) climbed to second place with 193 applications.
Euro Games Technology (Bulgaria), Shiseido (Japan), and Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany) completed the top five.
Industry Trends
The pharmaceutical sector saw significant growth, with Novartis increasing its filings by 83 applications.
BYD (China’s leading EV manufacturer) filed 60 additional applications, reflecting the growing importance of trademark protection in the electric vehicle industry.
The most commonly filed trademark classes included computer software, business services, and scientific research, reflecting global trends in AI-driven brand expansion.
Industrial Design filings reach record highs
The Hague System for international industrial design protection saw a 6.8% rise in 2024, reaching an all-time high of 27,161 designs.
Top Industrial Design Filing Countries (Hague Applications in 2024)
China: 4,870 designs (+29.6%)
Germany: 4,218 designs (-)
United States: 3,034 designs (+13.3%)
Italy: 2,249 designs (+23.8%)
Switzerland: 2,109 designs (-)
China’s 29.6% surge was largely driven by Huawei Technologies, which filed 387 additional designs in 2024.
Top Industrial Design Filers
Procter & Gamble (US) topped the list with 641 design filings.
Ferrari (Italy) and Porsche (Germany) ranked in the top five, demonstrating continued investment in automotive design innovation.
Volkswagen and Stellantis joined the top 10, highlighting the importance of design in the mobility sector.
The largest share of industrial designs belonged to recording and communication equipment (12.3%), followed by transport vehicles (11.1%) and packaging (7.9%).
Rising importance of IP dispute resolution
As global IP filings increased, so did disputes. The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO AMC) saw a 25% increase in IP-related disputes in 2024, handling 858 cases.
Meanwhile, trademark disputes related to domain names surged, with 6,168 cases filed under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). This growth underscores the critical role of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in handling cross-border IP conflicts.
Conclusion: A strong year for global IP protection
The 2024 WIPO report underscores the increasing global emphasis on intellectual property as a key driver of innovation and economic growth.
China continues to lead in patent and design filings, reinforcing its role as a major innovation hub.
The US, Japan, and Germany face ongoing challenges in maintaining IP growth, despite strong corporate filings from tech giants like Apple, Google, and Qualcomm.
The Madrid System’s rebound in trademark registrations signals renewed confidence in global brand expansion.
Industrial design filings have reached record levels, particularly in the automotive and electronics sectors.
IP dispute resolution is becoming more critical, with rising cases in both patents and trademarks.
As companies worldwide look to strengthen their competitive advantage, securing patents, trademarks, and designs through WIPO’s global IP systems remains essential. With continued technological advancements and AI-driven innovation, global IP filings are expected to grow further in 2025 and beyond.
Key takeaway for businesses
Whether you’re a tech giant, an emerging startup, or a global brand, now is the time to prioritize your IP strategy, monitor international filings, and leverage WIPO’s resources to protect your innovations in an increasingly complex global market.
Find the official press release by WIPO here