Andrew Flaxman takes a look at some statistics and reports showing how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the IP world.
The coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has delivered a powerful, unexpected blow to the entire world. While there is a flickering light at the end of the tunnel, it will be many months, possibly years, until we can understand the true economic cost of COVID-19. There have already been many economic casualties of the virus, with reports of many companies going into administration across the world. This is likely to continue in many sectors. However, while it is inevitably a dark time for many businesses all over the world, for some companies, the coronavirus pandemic has had a somewhat different effect.
While some businesses are inevitably reducing the amount of R&D they undertake and, consequently, the number of patent applications they file, others appear to be continuing relatively unscathed. One recent report notes a surprising increase in the number of patent applications being filed during lockdown, not only in the UK, but also in other countries, including China, which saw an increase in patent filings of nearly 8% in April 2020 compared with April 2019. Another report includes a forecast that the number of US patent filing numbers in 2020 will be very similar to the number filed in 2019, suggesting many companies are continuing to generate and seek protection for their innovations despite the consequences of COVID-19.
The increased innovation may be a consequence of new working arrangements, with many businesses having moved to a remote working environment. One theory is that time that would typically be spent on non-innovation work is now being reallocated, or that time normally spent commuting to and from a workplace is now being spent on innovation. As people around the world are able to return to their workplaces, it is possible that ideas conceived during lockdown may be realised and developed, which could lead to a flood of new patent filings in coming months.
Research1 suggests that many businesses have increased innovation in markets other than those in which they are normally active. For example, companies have reported an increase in R&D in computer-based technologies such as internet services and communications, as well as healthcare and pharmaceutical technologies including drug discovery, production and testing. So, it seems as though companies may have made rapid changes to their focus to enable them not only to survive, but to thrive during the pandemic.
And there has been no shortage of teamwork and collaboration between companies in recent months. Within weeks of the pandemic outbreak, companies around the world committed resources to help fight the virus or to assist with the treatment of those affected by the virus. For example, some of the world's largest tech companies, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, Amazon and IBM set up the 'Open COVID Pledge', through which over 250,000 patents have been made available for the purpose of ending and mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some companies have even used their resources to develop and manufacture ventilators for use in intensive care units, or to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in medical facilities.
To help companies to continue to innovate and protect their innovations despite a reduced income, in response to the pandemic, patent offices around the world have provided assistance to patent applicants by implementing a range of legal changes enabling deadlines to be extended and to enable the patent application process to be handled more easily for those in a remote working environment.
For more details on the measures put in place by the European Patent Office, the UK Intellectual Property Office and the German Patent and Trademark Office, take a look at our website.
Footnote
1. Clarivate Derwent - Chasing change: Innovation and patent activity during COVID-19, July 2020
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