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U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Patent Technology Monitoring Team (PTMT)

# PATENTING TRENDS
CALENDAR YEAR 2010

(document dated 19-JAN-2011)

In calendar year 2010, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted 219,614 utility, 22,799 design, 981 plant, 947 reissue patents, and 17 statutory invention registrations for a total of 244,358 patent documents for the year. Annual grants of all patent documents increased by 27.3 percent when compared to the total for calendar year 2009 (191,933 grants in 2009). Calendar year 2010 grants of utility patents ('patents for inventions') numbered 219,614, a 31.2 percent increase above the total for 2009 (167,349).

In 2010, the share of all patents that were issued to U.S.-resident inventors was 49.6 percent, a slight increase from the U.S. share for 2009 (49.5%). California-resident inventors claimed a 24.8 percent share (30,080 patents) of these U.S.-resident inventor patents, followed by resident inventors from New York (6.7 percent, 8,095 patents), Texas (6.6 percent, 8,027 patents), Washington (4.8 percent, 5,810 patents), Massachusetts (4.3 percent, 5,261 patents), Illinois (3.6 percent, 4,374 patents), New Jersey (3.6 percent, 4,345 patents), and Michigan (3.5 percent, 4277 patents). U.S.-resident inventors of the following areas had the largest percentage increases in patent receipts from 2009 to 2010: Maine, Hawaii, Nevada, South Dakota, Kansas, Virginia, and Alabama.

There were 16,049 patents granted to U.S. independent inventors in 2010, up from the 2009 count of U.S. independent inventor patents (12,697). The independent inventor share of all patents issued to U.S.-resident inventors dropped to 13.2 percent in 2010 from a 13.4 percent share in 2009.

Foreign-resident inventors claimed a 50.4 percent share of all U.S. patents issued in 2010. The share of all U.S. patents that were issued to Japan-resident inventors in calendar year 2010 was 19.2 percent, down from 19.8 in 2009. The 2010 share of U.S. patents that were issued to Germany-resident inventors was 5.6 percent, up from 5.4 percent in 2009. For South Korean-resident inventors, the 2010 share was 5.1 percent, up from 5.0 percent in 2009 and the share for Taiwan-resident inventors was 3.9 percent for 2010, down from 4.1 in 2009. Countries with notable increases in patent receipts for 2010 include Hungary, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Philippines, India, Thailand, Brazil, Norway, People's Republic of China, and Ireland.

The foreign countries whose residents received the most U.S. patents during calendar year 2010 are displayed in the table below. Following the table is a detail table that lists states and countries and the percentage change in patenting by their residents from 2009 to 2010.

This table displays the fourteen foreign countries of origin receiving the most U.S. patents during calendar year 2010. Figures for the United States and for all countries overall are listed at the end of the table. Counts include utility, design, plant, and reissue patents, and statutory invention registrations. Patent origin is based on the residence of the first-named inventor.
Rank in 2010 | Number of Patents in 2010 | Share of All Patents in 2010 | Country | (Rank in 2009) | (Number of patents in 2009) | (2009 to 2010) (Change in Number of patents)
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | 46,978 | 19.2% | Japan | (1) | (38,066) | (23.4%)
2 | 13,633 | 5.6% | Germany | (2) | (10,353) | (31.7%)
3 | 12,508 | 5.1% | South Korea | (3) | (9,566) | (30.8%)
4 | 9,635 | 3.9% | Taiwan | (4) | (7,781) | (23.8%)
5 | 5,513 | 2.3% | Canada | (5) | (4,393) | (25.5%)
6 | 5,100 | 2.1% | France | (7) | (3,805) | (34.0%)
7 | 5,038 | 2.1% | United Kingdom | (6) | (4,011) | (25.7%)
8 | 3,303 | 1.4% | China, People's Rep. | (8) | (2,270) | (45.5%)
9 | 2,254 | 0.9% | Italy | (9) | (1,837) | (22.7%)
10 | 2,079 | 0.9% | Australia | (11) | (1,550) | (34.1%)
11 | 1,919 | 0.8% | Netherlands | (10) | (1,558) | (23.2%)
12 | 1,917 | 0.8% | Israel | (12) | (1,525) | (25.7%)
13 | 1,889 | 0.8% | Switzerland | (13) | (1,454) | (29.9%)
14 | 1,594 | 0.7% | Sweden | (14) | (1,231) | (29.5%)
| 121,179 | 49.6% | United States |  | ( 95,038) | ( 27.5% )
| 123,179 | 50.4% | All Foreign |  | ( 96,895) | ( 27.1% )
| 244,358 | 100.0% | All Countries |  | (191,933) | ( 27.3% )

## Annual Percentage Change in Patent Counts
By U.S. State and Country of Origin
Calendar Year 2009 to 2010

This table displays states and countries of origin along with the annual percentage change in patent counts (including utility, design, plant, and reissue patents, and statutory invention registrations) from calendar year 2009 to 2010. U.S., foreign, and overall totals are displayed at the beginning of the table. Patent origin is based on the residence of the first-named inventor.
State or Country |  | Number of Patents in 2009 | Number of Patents in 2010 | Number of Patents in 2009-2010 | Annual Percent Increase
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Total, U.S. And Foreign Origin |  | 191933 | 244358 | 436291 | 27.3%
-- Subtotal -- U.S. Origin |  | 95038 | 121179 | 216217 | 27.5%
-- Subtotal -- Foreign Origin |  | 96895 | 123179 | 220074 | 27.1%
ALABAMA |  | 377 | 538 | 915 | 42.7%
ALASKA |  | 55 | 33 | 88 | -40.0%
ARIZONA |  | 1759 | 2169 | 3928 | 23.3%
ARKANSAS |  | 154 | 216 | 370 | 40.3%
CALIFORNIA |  | 23356 | 30080 | 53436 | 28.8%
COLORADO |  | 1966 | 2436 | 4402 | 23.9%
CONNECTICUT |  | 1661 | 2111 | 3772 | 27.1%
DELAWARE |  | 343 | 391 | 734 | 14.0%
FLORIDA |  | 2899 | 3724 | 6623 | 28.5%
GEORGIA |  | 1666 | 2194 | 3860 | 31.7%
HAWAII |  | 96 | 144 | 240 | 50.0%
IDAHO |  | 985 | 1162 | 2147 | 18.0%
ILLINOIS |  | 3615 | 4374 | 7989 | 21.0%
INDIANA |  | 1246 | 1697 | 2943 | 36.2%
IOWA |  | 730 | 809 | 1539 | 10.8%
KANSAS |  | 509 | 728 | 1237 | 43.0%
KENTUCKY |  | 457 | 601 | 1058 | 31.5%
LOUISIANA |  | 315 | 355 | 670 | 12.7%
MAINE |  | 130 | 220 | 350 | 69.2%
MARYLAND |  | 1445 | 1732 | 3177 | 19.9%
MASSACHUSETTS |  | 4038 | 5261 | 9299 | 30.3%
MICHIGAN |  | 3516 | 4277 | 7793 | 21.6%
MINNESOTA |  | 2972 | 4005 | 6977 | 34.8%
MISSISSIPPI |  | 144 | 172 | 316 | 19.4%
MISSOURI |  | 877 | 1140 | 2017 | 30.0%
MONTANA |  | 91 | 118 | 209 | 29.7%
NEBRASKA |  | 226 | 253 | 479 | 11.9%
NEVADA |  | 426 | 639 | 1065 | 50.0%
NEW HAMPSHIRE |  | 608 | 802 | 1410 | 31.9%
NEW JERSEY |  | 3259 | 4345 | 7604 | 33.3%
NEW MEXICO |  | 329 | 455 | 784 | 38.3%
NEW YORK |  | 6127 | 8095 | 14222 | 32.1%
NORTH CAROLINA |  | 2298 | 2922 | 5220 | 27.2%
NORTH DAKOTA |  | 92 | 112 | 204 | 21.7%
OHIO |  | 3023 | 3983 | 7006 | 31.8%
OKLAHOMA |  | 446 | 582 | 1028 | 30.5%
OREGON |  | 2014 | 2340 | 4354 | 16.2%
PENNSYLVANIA |  | 3066 | 3889 | 6955 | 26.8%
RHODE ISLAND |  | 305 | 354 | 659 | 16.1%
SOUTH CAROLINA |  | 579 | 652 | 1231 | 12.6%
SOUTH DAKOTA |  | 56 | 82 | 138 | 46.4%
TENNESSEE |  | 785 | 1037 | 1822 | 32.1%
TEXAS |  | 6436 | 8027 | 14463 | 24.7%
UTAH |  | 856 | 1145 | 2001 | 33.8%
VERMONT |  | 500 | 668 | 1168 | 33.6%
VIRGINIA |  | 1209 | 1726 | 2935 | 42.8%
WASHINGTON |  | 4855 | 5810 | 10665 | 19.7%
WEST VIRGINIA |  | 102 | 134 | 236 | 31.4%
WISCONSIN |  | 1887 | 2232 | 4119 | 18.3%
WYOMING |  | 64 | 89 | 153 | 39.1%
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |  | 62 | 87 | 149 | 40.3%
GUAM |  | 1 | 0 | 1 | -100.0%
PUERTO RICO |  | 20 | 28 | 48 | 40.0%
U.S. UNSPECIFIED REGION |  | 0 | 2 | 2 | No 2009 Patents
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS |  | 5 | 2 | 7 | -60.0%
ALGERIA |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
ANDORRA |  | 5 | 7 | 12 | 40.0%
ANGUILLA |  | 1 | 0 | 1 | -100.0%
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
ARGENTINA |  | 50 | 59 | 109 | 18.0%
ARMENIA |  | 1 | 2 | 3 | 100.0%
AUSTRALIA |  | 1550 | 2079 | 3629 | 34.1%
AUSTRIA |  | 767 | 905 | 1672 | 18.0%
BAHRAIN |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
BARBADOS |  | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.0%
BELARUS |  | 5 | 7 | 12 | 40.0%
BELGIUM |  | 707 | 896 | 1603 | 26.7%
BELIZE |  | 1 | 0 | 1 | -100.0%
BERMUDA |  | 0 | 3 | 3 | No 2009 Patents
BOLIVIA |  | 1 | 0 | 1 | -100.0%
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA |  | 1 | 0 | 1 | -100.0%
BRAZIL |  | 148 | 219 | 367 | 48.0%
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS |  | 4 | 0 | 4 | -100.0%
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM |  | 1 | 0 | 1 | -100.0%
BULGARIA |  | 37 | 60 | 97 | 62.2%
BURKINA FASO |  | 1 | 0 | 1 | -100.0%
CAMEROON |  | 1 | 4 | 5 | 300.0%
CANADA |  | 4393 | 5513 | 9906 | 25.5%
CAYMAN ISLANDS |  | 2 | 4 | 6 | 100.0%
CHILE |  | 26 | 27 | 53 | 3.8%
CHINA, MACAU S.A.R. |  | 2 | 1 | 3 | -50.0%
CHINA, PEOPLE'S REP. |  | 2270 | 3303 | 5573 | 45.5%
CHINA, HONG KONG S.A.R. |  | 587 | 716 | 1303 | 22.0%
COLOMBIA |  | 9 | 9 | 18 | 0.0%
COSTA RICA |  | 18 | 11 | 29 | -38.9%
CROATIA |  | 18 | 9 | 27 | -50.0%
CUBA |  | 4 | 8 | 12 | 100.0%
CYPRUS |  | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0.0%
CZECH REPUBLIC |  | 50 | 81 | 131 | 62.0%
DENMARK |  | 537 | 766 | 1303 | 42.6%
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC |  | 6 | 2 | 8 | -66.7%
ECUADOR |  | 6 | 2 | 8 | -66.7%
EGYPT |  | 3 | 20 | 23 | 566.7%
EL SALVADOR |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
ESTONIA |  | 4 | 15 | 19 | 275.0%
FINLAND |  | 997 | 1232 | 2229 | 23.6%
FRANCE |  | 3805 | 5100 | 8905 | 34.0%
GEORGIA (REPUBLIC OF) |  | 1 | 2 | 3 | 100.0%
GERMANY |  | 10352 | 13633 | 23985 | 31.7%
GHANA |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
GIBRALTAR |  | 1 | 0 | 1 | -100.0%
GREECE |  | 39 | 54 | 93 | 38.5%
GREENLAND |  | 3 | 0 | 3 | -100.0%
GUATEMALA |  | 0 | 2 | 2 | No 2009 Patents
GUERNSEY |  | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.0%
HUNGARY |  | 48 | 98 | 146 | 104.2%
ICELAND |  | 24 | 25 | 49 | 4.2%
INDIA |  | 720 | 1137 | 1857 | 57.9%
INDONESIA |  | 18 | 6 | 24 | -66.7%
IRAN |  | 6 | 8 | 14 | 33.3%
IRELAND |  | 189 | 275 | 464 | 45.5%
ISLE OF MAN |  | 6 | 4 | 10 | -33.3%
ISRAEL |  | 1525 | 1917 | 3442 | 25.7%
ITALY |  | 1837 | 2254 | 4091 | 22.7%
JAMAICA |  | 3 | 4 | 7 | 33.3%
JAPAN |  | 38066 | 46978 | 85044 | 23.4%
JERSEY |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
JORDAN |  | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.0%
KAZAKHSTAN |  | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.0%
KENYA |  | 7 | 1 | 8 | -85.7%
KOREA, NORTH |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
KOREA, SOUTH |  | 9566 | 12508 | 22074 | 30.8%
KUWAIT |  | 15 | 14 | 29 | -6.7%
LATVIA |  | 5 | 4 | 9 | -20.0%
LEBANON |  | 6 | 5 | 11 | -16.7%
LIECHTENSTEIN |  | 22 | 17 | 39 | -22.7%
LITHUANIA |  | 3 | 8 | 11 | 166.7%
LUXEMBOURG |  | 56 | 44 | 100 | -21.4%
MALAYSIA |  | 181 | 224 | 405 | 23.8%
MALTA |  | 6 | 3 | 9 | -50.0%
MEXICO |  | 80 | 115 | 195 | 43.8%
MONACO |  | 7 | 9 | 16 | 28.6%
MOROCCO |  | 3 | 1 | 4 | -66.7%
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
NETHERLANDS |  | 1558 | 1919 | 3477 | 23.2%
NEW ZEALAND |  | 198 | 232 | 430 | 17.2%
NORWAY |  | 292 | 448 | 740 | 53.4%
OMAN |  | 1 | 2 | 3 | 100.0%
PAKISTAN |  | 3 | 2 | 5 | -33.3%
PANAMA |  | 2 | 3 | 5 | 50.0%
PARAGUAY |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
PERU |  | 3 | 2 | 5 | -33.3%
PHILIPPINES |  | 25 | 40 | 65 | 60.0%
POLAND |  | 43 | 56 | 99 | 30.2%
PORTUGAL |  | 19 | 34 | 53 | 78.9%
QATAR |  | 2 | 0 | 2 | -100.0%
ROMANIA |  | 8 | 16 | 24 | 100.0%
RUSSIAN FEDERATION |  | 204 | 287 | 491 | 40.7%
SAMOA |  | 0 | 2 | 2 | No 2009 Patents
SAUDI ARABIA |  | 23 | 58 | 81 | 152.2%
SENEGAL |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
SERBIA |  | 2 | 4 | 6 | 100.0%
SINGAPORE |  | 493 | 633 | 1126 | 28.4%
SLOVAKIA |  | 16 | 19 | 35 | 18.8%
SLOVENIA |  | 27 | 26 | 53 | -3.7%
SOUTH AFRICA |  | 139 | 142 | 281 | 2.2%
SPAIN |  | 403 | 492 | 895 | 22.1%
SRI LANKA |  | 6 | 5 | 11 | -16.7%
SWEDEN |  | 1231 | 1594 | 2825 | 29.5%
SWITZERLAND |  | 1454 | 1889 | 3343 | 29.9%
TAIWAN |  | 7781 | 9635 | 17416 | 23.8%
THAILAND |  | 39 | 60 | 99 | 53.8%
THE BAHAMAS |  | 6 | 9 | 15 | 50.0%
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO |  | 2 | 5 | 7 | 150.0%
TUNISIA |  | 0 | 2 | 2 | No 2009 Patents
TURKEY |  | 36 | 45 | 81 | 25.0%
UKRAINE |  | 16 | 14 | 30 | -12.5%
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |  | 9 | 9 | 18 | 0.0%
UNITED KINGDOM |  | 4009 | 5038 | 9047 | 25.7%
URUGUAY |  | 5 | 6 | 11 | 20.0%
VANUATU |  | 0 | 1 | 1 | No 2009 Patents
VENEZUELA |  | 11 | 18 | 29 | 63.6%
VIET NAM |  | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.0%
ZIMBABWE |  | 4 | 0 | 4 | -100.0%

## Contact Information -

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> U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
> Electronic Information Products Division - PTMT
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> Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

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> e-mail:oeip@uspto.gov

> address of PTMT pages at the USPTO Web Site: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/tafp.html
> selected PTMT reports available for download at : http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/data/

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