The EPO received 232 000 European patent filings in 2010, 10% up on the 2009 figure (211 000). 39% of these filings originated from the 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation, 26% from the US, 18% from Japan and 5% from each of South Korea and China.In 2010, the EPO granted 58 100 patents, 11% more than in 2009 (52 400).
"These figures clearly indicate that demand for patent protection is on the rise again, after the economic downturn of the previous two years", says EPO President Benoît Battistelli.
The EPO expects a further increase for the current year.
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