IBM Sets U.S. Patent Record; Achieves 21st Straight Year of Patent Leadership

IBM inventors received more than 6,800 U.S. patents in 2013 including 3 from Malaysia

PETALING JAYA 27 Jan 2014:  IBM (NYSE: IBM) inventors received a record-setting 6,809 patents for 2013, making it the 21st consecutive year the company topped the annual list of U.S. patent leaders. The 6,809 patents included three that were awarded to Malaysian teams whose inventions have helped our clients improve their business processes.

The three local patents were for the following inventions: automated paper consumption tracking and auditing;  message oriented construction of web services; and, spacer and process to enhance the strain in the channel with stress liner.

"IBMers in Malaysia are proud with the recognition that underscores that when talent and creativity are combined with teamwork, the results are immeasurable," said IBM Malaysia managing director, Paul Moung.

“We take pride in being recognized as the U.S. patent leader, but patents are only one gauge of innovation. Equally significant is the impact that our patented inventions have when they are used to enable solutions that help clients and societies solve problems,”said Bernie Meyerson, IBM Fellow and VP of Innovation. “Furthermore, the broad range of inventions that these patents represent underscores the need for a patent system that equally and fairly promotes and supports innovation across all technical fields.”

IBM's 2013 patent total exceeded the combined totals of Amazon, Google, EMC, HP, Intel, Oracle/SUN and Symantec. The company's record 2013 patent count was made possible by more than 8,000 IBM inventors residing in 47 different U.S. states and 41 countries.

The Top Ten list of 2013 U.S. patent recipients* includes:
1 IBM 6,809
2 Samsung 4,676
3 Canon 3,825
4 Sony 3,098
5 Microsoft 2,660
6 Panasonic 2,601
7 Toshiba 2,416
8 Hon Hai 2,279
9 Qualcomm 2,103
10 LG Electronics 1,947