IBM tops patent list for 14th time.

0 Comments | M2 Presswire, January, 2007

M2 PRESSWIRE-12 January 2007-IBM: IBM tops patent list for 14th time(C)1994-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE:11012007 IFI Claims Patent Services has released the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) annual list of the top 35 patent winners. With 3,621, IBM surpassed its own record and earned more U.S.

patents than any other company for the 14th consecutive year. The company exceeded the next closest patent holder by 1,170. According to IFI's analysis, 2006 saw 173,772 corporate patents issued -- a USPTO record. That marks a 20.8 percent increase over 2005. Also, IBM announced that it will develop and host the "Inventors' Forum," an online initiative to share and debate ideas on how smaller enterprises view patent systems and can contribute...