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High number of patents, international spread of applicants
5.30.
We consider that a system which has a high number of applications for patents from an international spread of applicants will give an indication of the use made of that patent system by overseas businessmen who might want to protect their inventions in Hong Kong. In considering this question we have noted the number of applications and the spread of applicants in various patent offices.
5.31.
The following paragraphs (5.32 to 5.38) set out the relevant statistics from those patent offices of the country or countries which have a high level of trade with Hong Kong.
Chinese Patent Office (CPO)
5.32.
In 1990 there were 10,137 applications for full patents made to the CPO, of which 5,832 (57%) were from domestic applicants and 4,305 (43%) were from foreigners. In addition 27,615 applications for utility models were filed of which 27,488 were from domestic applicants with 74 from foreigners. The breakdown of patent applications from foreigners shows that of these over 1,600 (37%) were from the US, over 800 (19%) from Japan, over 1,200 (27%) from the EPC countries and 26 (0.60%) from Hong Kong.
European Patent Office (EPO)
5.33.
In 1990 there were 62,800 applications for full patents to the EPO of which over 30,000 (48%) came from EPC member countries, over 17,000 (27%) from US, over 12,000 (19%) from Japan and over 2,000 (3%) from other countries. In 1990, 28 applications were from Hong Kong residents, representing 0.04% of the total. In 1990 over 24,000 patents were granted to applicants of which 56% were from the countries of the EPC, 23% from the US and 17% from Japan.
Japanese Patent Office (JPO)
5.34.
The most recent figures showing the breakdown of applications from foreigners is in 1989. In that year there were 351,207 applications for patents to the JPO of which 33,641 (9.6%) came from foreigners.
Of the applications from foreigners about 14,800 (44%) were from the US, 15,000 (45%) from the countries of the EPC and 3,800 (11%) from other countries.
5.35.
It is interesting to note that applications to other countries from Japan in 1987 show over 25,000 applications to the US as compared to 7,300 to the individual countries of the EPC and over 13,000 to other countries.
5.36.
It is acknowledged that the JPO receives the largest number of applications worldwide due mainly to domestic reasons and it is understood that efforts are being made
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