Patents are big business in the US/Europe, are things going to change Asia?
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IP is certainly big business – just ask the folks at IBM. According to Wired magazine, http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,43186,00.html
IBM generated nearly $2 billion in patent revenues in 2000 alone. It is no wonder that companies spend millions on developing and defending their intellectual property. We now seen a record number of patent filings, even internationally – there are even patent auctions being conducted in the US (by Ocean Tomo).
Most surprising to me is that the biggest rate of growth of patent filers is coming from Asia, according to WIPO. Hopefully this will translate to more focus/attention by the Asian community on the validity of patents. Is Asia finally turning the corner on IP??
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/prdocs/en/2005/wipo_pr_2005_403.html
