Use of WIPO’s Global IP Registries for Patents, Trademarks and Designs Grew in 2024

Geneva, March 17, 2025
PR/2025/934

The World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) global intellectual property (IP) registries for patents, trademarks and designs all registered growth in 2024, as enterprises and individuals increased their use of WIPO systems to protect and promote their products in foreign markets.

Designs contained in applications filed with the Hague System (International Design System) increased by 6.8% in 2024, while international patent applications filed through WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (International Patent System) increased by 0.5%. And following two consecutive years of decline, WIPO’s Madrid System for the International Registration of Trademarks (International Trademark System) saw a 1.2% increase in filing activity.

WIPO is unique amongst UN agencies in providing services directly to the private sector: Our international IP registries help innovative individuals and enterprises around the world move their IP across borders and expand into new markets. As demand for our services increases, we will continue to focus on being even more customer centered and efficient for our clients, so as to continue bringing value to innovators all over the world.

WIPO Director General Daren Tang

International patent system (Patent Cooperation Treaty – PCT)

Top PCT filers

In 2024, the total number of PCT filings reached 273,900, a 0.5% increase compared to 2023. China remained the top source, submitting 70,160 applications. Following China were the US (54,087 applications), Japan (48,397), the Republic of Korea (23,851) and Germany (16,721) (Annex 1 ). While China returned to growth (+0.9%), the US, Japan and Germany experienced declines of 2.8%, 1.2%, and 1.3%, respectively. This marks the third consecutive year of decrease for the US, and the second for both Germany and Japan. In contrast, the Republic of Korea saw strong growth of 7.1% - its 27^th successive year of growth.

Huawei Technologies was the top PCT filer in 2024, with 6,600 published applications, followed by Samsung Electronics (Republic of Korea, 4,640 applications), Qualcomm (US, 3,848), LG Electronics (Republic of Korea, 2,083) and Contemporary Amperex Technology (China, 1,993) (Annex 2 ). Japan, China and the US have the highest number of applicants in the top 100 filing entities, with 35, 21 and 19 respectively.

Among the top 10 applicants, Samsung Electronics saw the fastest growth, with 716 additional published applications in 2024. In contrast, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) experienced a decrease of 196 applications compared to 2023. Outside the top 10, US tech giants Apple (441 additional applications) and Google (335 additional applications) both entered the top 20. While representing a range of industries, at least eight of the top 20 applicants operate in the mobile phone and telecommunications sectors.

In the education sector, the University of California (US) retained its top position with 519 published PCT applications in 2024. The University of Texas System (US) followed in second place with 216 applications, then Tsinghua University (China, 188), Zhejiang University (China, 175) and Seoul National University (Republic of Korea, 170) (Annex 3 ).

Top technologies

In 2024, digital communication became the leading field in published PCT applications, representing 10.5% of the total. This surpassed computer technology, which had held the top spot since 2019. Other prominent fields included computer technology (9.7%), electrical machinery (8.6%), medical technology (6.5%) and measurement (4.4%) (Annex 4 ). Together, these five fields represented approximately 40% of all published PCT applications, a five-percentage point increase compared to 2019. Among the top 10 technology fields, digital communication (+9.9%) and electrical machinery (+7.9%) saw the fastest growth rates in 2024.

International trademark system (Madrid System)

Top Madrid filers

After two consecutive years of decline, the total number of international trademark applications filed under WIPO’s Madrid System returned to growth in 2024, totaling 65,000 applications, representing a 1.2% increase compared to 2023. US-based applicants (11,270 applications) filed the largest number of international trademark applications, followed by those located in Germany (6,449), China (5,828), France (4,211) and the UK (3,736) (Annex 5 ).

Six of the top 10 countries of origin recorded growth in Madrid applications in 2024, with the Republic of Korea (+12.1%) reporting the fastest growth, followed by China (+6.3%), Switzerland (+6.1%), Japan (+6.1%), Italy (+5.7%) and the US (+2.5%).

L'Oréal of France maintained its leading position in Madrid applications for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, with a total of 244 filings. Following L'Oréal, Novartis AG of Switzerland climbed two spots to become the second-largest filer with 193 applications.  Rounding out the top five were Euro Games Technology of Bulgaria (141 applications), Shiseido Company of Japan (124) and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH of Germany (106).

Several companies saw large growth in their Madrid application filings between 2023 and 2024. Notably, Novartis AG, a pharmaceutical company, increased its filings by 83. Other substantial increases came from O'Reilly Automotive Stores of the US (auto parts retailer, +76 applications), Amorepacific Corporation of the Republic of Korea (beauty and cosmetics, +65), and BYD Company of China (electric car manufacturer, +60) (Annex 6 ).

Top classes

The most specified class in international applications received by WIPO covers computer hardware and software and other electrical or electronic apparatus, accounting for 10.8% of the 2024 total. It was followed by the class covering business services (8.4%) and the one relating to scientific and technological services (7.8%).

International design system (Hague System)

Top Hague filers

In 2024, WIPO's Hague System for the international protection of industrial designs saw application numbers reach an all-time high of 27,161 designs. This represents a 6.8% increase, continuing the System's growth for the fourth consecutive year. China was the leading filer in 2024, with 4,870 designs, followed by Germany (4,218 designs), the US (3,034), Italy (2,249) and Switzerland (2,109) (Annex 7 ). Five of the top 10 countries experienced double-digit growth in 2024, with China leading with 29.6% growth, followed by Italy (+23.8%), the Netherlands (+17.4%), the Republic of Korea (+16.8%) and the US (+13.3%). China's overall growth is largely attributable to a substantial increase in filings by Huawei Technologies, which submitted an additional 387 designs in 2024 compared to 2023.

Procter & Gamble of the US has taken the lead in design filings, with 641 published designs in applications in 2024. This displaces Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea, last year's top filer, which dropped to sixth place after filing 118 fewer designs in 2024, totaling 426. Other top filers include Porsche AG of Germany with 506 designs, LG Electronics of the Republic of Korea with 459, Ferrari SPA of Italy with 442 and Huawei Technologies of China with 431 (Annex 8 ). Four automakers—Ferrari SPA, Porsche AG, Volkswagen AG (Germany) and Stellantis Auto (France)—rank among the top 10 applicants.

Top fields

In 2024, the largest share of total designs was in recording and communication equipment (12.3%), closely followed by means of transport (11.1%), packages and containers (7.9%), furnishings (7.6%) and household goods (5%).

Alternative Dispute Resolution

In results released earlier this year, the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO AMC) reported that in 2024 it was involved in the resolution of 858 intellectual property, innovation, and technology disputes, marking an increase of 25% from 2023, while trademark owners from 133 countries filed 6,168 cases under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and national ccTLD variations.