Archive:Intellectual property rights statistics

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Data from February 2013. Most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database. Planned article update:September 2014.

This article presents statistics on Intellectual property rights (IPR), and in particular on Community Trademarks and Design applications in the European Union (EU). Data are published by Eurostat based on raw data received from the Office for Harmonization in the internal market (OHIM), which is the Agency of the European Union for the registration of Community Trademarks and Designs. Intellectual property refers broadly to the creations of human mind. Common types of Intellectual property rights include Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Copyrights. Trademark and Designs constitute means by which creators seek protection for their industrial property and reflect the non-technological innovation in every sector of economic life, including services. In this context, indicators based on Trademark and Design data can provide a link between innovation and the market. R&D and patents are mainly related to the measurement of technological innovation and scientific expertise.

Main statistical findings

Community trade mark (CTM) applications

More than 76 000 CTM applications originating from EU-27 member states were received by OHIM in 2012 for the protection of Trademarks in EU. During the period 2010-2012 the total number of CTM applications at EU-27 and World has an increasing trend (see Figure 1), after a smooth decrease between 2008 and 2009.

Among the EU-27 member states, Germany and United Kingdom had the highest number of CTM applications in 2012 (see Table 1). The total number of CTM applications originating from these two countries accounts for almost 40% of total applications received by OHIM in 2012 from EU-27 member states. According to the average number of Trademark applications during the period 1996-2012, the leading European countries in CTM protection are Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands and Switzerland. United States and Japan are also the non-European countries with the highest number of CTM applications to OHIM for the protection of Trademarks. Among the non-European countries, United States has the highest average number of CTM applications in relation to other non-European countries between 1996 and 2012, being almost equal to 11 252. During 2012 OHIM received 14 000 applications originating from United States for the protection of Trademarks throughout EU.

Figures on CMT applications are also expressed as percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Population (see Table 1). The use of relative terms supports the comparability of figures. The figures that represent CTM applications as percentage of GDP or population, lead to different conclusions than those derived when only totals are used. The relative figures were calculated for the time period of 1996-2012 as the ratios of the average number of CTM applications in relation to the average GDP or average population. Countries with small size of economies in terms of absolute values of GDP, like Liechtenstein (LI), Luxembourg (LU), Malta (MT) and Cyprus (CY), do have the highest activity in seeking protection for Community Trademarks when CTM applications per GDP are taken into account. According to the relative figures for CTM applications per population, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Cyprus report the highest number of CTM applications per million inhabitants.

At EU level, the number of CTM applications to OHIM increased by an average of 2% between 2011 and 2012. Between 2011 and 2012, the protection activity increased for 32 out of 49 countries (65% of total countries). Eight countries of which five are EU-27 member states, one is EU candidate and two are non EU countries, increased in 2012 more than 20% their total number of CTM applications to OHIM for the protection of Trademarks. The leading countries in terms of the annual average number of growth rate in CTM applications are: Iceland (52%), Lithuania (50%), Russia (49%), Malta (42%), Slovenia (39%), Estonia (29%), Czech Republic (24%) and Mexico (22%) (see Figure 2). The highest decrease in the total number of CTM applications to OHIM between 2011 and 2012 was observed for Liechtenstein (34%), Singapore (20%), Netherlands (17%) and Switzerland (10%).

An analysis of co-ownership of Community Trademark applications shows that more than 96% of the total CTM applications received by OHIM at annual level belong to a single owner (see Figure 3). Cooperation between EU owners only is very limited and accounts on average for 2.5% of CTM applications received by OHIM between 1996 and 2012. Although the share of EU co-ownership is still very low, there is an increasing trend the recent years for the CTM applications where their owning rights belong to more than EU owners from different EU countries.

Community design (CD) filed in applications

In 2012, the total number of designs filed in Design applications by EU-27 applicants was equal to 58 412. During 2003-2007 the total number of designs at EU-27 and World level was increasing steadily (see Figure 4). In 2008 the activity in Design protection was slightly decreased in relation to 2007, till 2009 where the total number of Designs at EU-27 and World level was further decreased. From 2010 a recovery in the protection of Community Designs is observed worldwide. The total number of designs reached in 2012 the highest value through the whole time period of 2003-2012 at World level. At EU-27 level the recovery in design protection from 2009 onwards is smoother than that at World level, reaching in 2012 the levels of 2008.

In 2012, Germany was the leading country in Design protection with the highest number of Designs (18 208) among the EU-27 member states (see Table 2), followed by Italy with 8 782 Designs having being filed in applications. The total number of Designs originating from these two countries accounts for 46% of total Designs filed in applications that were received by OHIM in 2012 from EU-27 member states. According to the average number of Designs filed during the period 2003-2012, the leading European countries in Design protection in European Union are Germany(14 972), Italy (8 721), France (5 289), United Kingdom (4 133) and Spain (3 530). United States (6 710), Japan (2 818) and China (excl. Hong Kong) (2 578) were the leading non-EU countries in Community Design protection during 2012. Among the non-European countries, United States with its average number of Designs reaching almost 15 000 between 2003 and 2012, is the leading non-European country in Community Design protection. Figures on Designs filed in applications are also expressed as percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Population (see Table 2). Similarly to the case of CTM applications the figures that represent the total number of Designs as percentage of GDP or population, lead to different conclusions than those derived when pure totals are used. The relative figures were calculated for the time period of 2003-2012 as the ratios of the average number of Designs in relation to the average GDP or average population. When the protection of designs all over Europe is monitored in relation to the size of the economy, similar conclusions with that for Trademarks are drawn. Furthermore, the ratio of Design applications for Lichtenstein per billion GDP is the highest among all of the 49 countries. However, the leading countries in Design protection per GDP are different from those presented for CTM applications. Countries, such as Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands and Austria seek protection for a relatively high number of design applications per billion GDP, when compared to other countries. The performance of those countries is similar when total number of Designs is expressed per million inhabitants.

At EU level, the number of Designs filed in Design applications received by OHIM increased by an average of 1% between 2011 and 2012(see Figure 5). At World total level the increase was higher, reaching 3% for the same time period. Between 2011 and 2012, the protection activity for Community designs increased for 29 out of 49 countries (60% of total countries). Six countries of which four are European countries, have more than 100% increase in the total number of Designs that were filed in 2012, when compared to those filed in 2011. These very high average growth rates occur for countries high a very small number of Designs. The leading countries in terms of the annual average number of growth rate in Community Designs are: Iceland (186%), Croatia (150%), Mexico (150%), Malta (144%), Bulgaria (124%) and South Africa (103%). Among the leading European countries in Design protection, France increased in 2012 by 7% the total number of Designs filed to OHIM in relation to 2011. Similarly, an increase of 4% is observed for Germany and 1% for Spain. For Italy and United Kingdom the total number of Community Designs filed was decreased by 12% and 2% respectively during 2012 in relation to 2011. The highest decrease in the total number of Community Designs between 2011 and 2012 was observed mainly for non-European countries, with the exception of Latvia (73%), Switzerland (42%).

An analysis of co-ownership of Community Designs shows that around 80% of the total Designs filed in applications that are received by OHIM at annual level belong to a single owner (see Figure 6). Cooperation between EU owners only, is more intensive in the protection of Community Designs than in the protection of Community Trademarks. The share of EU co-ownership in Community designs (15%) is higher than in Community Trademarks (2.5%). EU co-ownership in designs has slightly decreased in 2011 and 2012 when compared to 2010.

Data sources and availability

The statistical indicators on Community Trademarks and Designs are produced from the raw data provided by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM). The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) is the Agency of the European Union for the registration of Community Trademarks and Designs. Community Trademarks and Design refer to trade mark and design protections throughout the European Union, which covers 28 countries.

Context

Within the framework of Lisbon Strategy and the objectives of the EU 2020 Strategy, Trademark and Design statistics can serve as supporting tools for illustrating the achievements reached by the European Union in its strategy for developing a smarter, knowledge based, greener economy, growing fast and sustainably, creating high levels of employment and social progress. The compilation of Statistics on Intellectual property rights, other than patents, allows the European Commission to better measure non-technological innovation. Trademark and Industrial Designs constitute protection means that cover overall every sector of the economy and can allow better measurement of marketing innovation as they reflect the commercial value of an innovation. Organizational and marketing innovation has already been introduced by Eurostat into the guidelines for collecting and interpreting innovation data (“Oslo-Manual”) and by incorporating respective questions into the fourth Community Innovation Survey (CIS 4) conducted in 2005. Non-technological innovations represent first the product innovations that take place in sectors with low technological content, notably the service sector. The Oslo Manual, since the second edition (1997), mentions that the analysis of innovation should include the service sector. Trademarks are words or figurative marks that constitute an essential part of the “identity” of goods and services. They help deliver brand recognition, in logos for example, and play an important role in marketing and communication. It is possible to register a variety of trademarks including words, other graphical representations, and even sounds. Rights’ owners have a choice of obtaining protection on a country-by-country basis, or using international systems. A design is the outward appearance of a product or part of it, resulting from the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture, materials and/or its ornamentation. The design or shape of a product can be synonymous with the branding and image of a company and can become an asset with increasing A registered Community trade mark (CTM) is an exclusive right that protects distinctive signs, valid across the EU, registered directly with OHIM in Alicante in accordance with the conditions specified in the CTM Regulations. A CTM registration lasts for 10 years but can be renewed indefinitely (Source: OHIM). A registered Community design (RCD) is an exclusive right that covers the outward appearance of a product or part of it. The fact that the right is registered confers on the design great certainty should infringement occur. An RCD initially has a life of five years from the filing date and can be renewed in blocks of five years up to a maximum of 25 years. Applicants may market a design for up to 12 months before filing for an RCD without destroying its novelty (Source: OHIM).

Further Eurostat information

Data visualisation

Regional Statistics Illustrated - select statistical domain 'xxx' (= Agriculture, Economy, Education, Health, Information society, Labour market, Population, Science and technology, Tourism or Transport) (top right)

Publications

• Science, technology and innovation in Europe - 2013 edition (Pocketbook) • Science, technology and innovation in Europe - 2012 edition (Pocketbook)

Main tables

Title of top Main tables folder, see:

Title(s) of second level folder (if any)

Title(s) of third level folder (if any)

Database

Title of top Database folder, see:

Intellectual property rights (ipr)

Community trade marks (CTM) (ipr_t)

Community trade mark (CTM) applications by receive year (ipr_ta)

Community trade mark (CTM) publications by publication year (ipr_tp)

Community trade mark (CTM) registrations by registration year (ipr_tr)

Community trade mark (CTM) lifecycle by receive year (ipr_tl)

Cooperation for Community trade marks by receive year (ipr_tc)

Community trade marks (CTM) (ipr_t)

Applications filled for the registration of one or more Community designs (CD) by receive year (ipr_da)

Community design (CD) filed in applications by receive year (ipr_dfa)

Cooperation for Community designs (CD) by receive year (ipr_dc)

Other information

Regulation 1737/2005 (generating url [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32005R1737:EN:NOT Regulation 1737/2005]) of DD Month YYYY on ...
Directive 2003/86/EC (generating url [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32003L0086:EN:NOT Directive 2003/86/EC]) of DD Month YYYY on ...
Commission Decision 2003/86/EC (generating url [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32003D0086:EN:NOT Commission Decision 2003/86/EC]) of DD Month YYYY on ...

External links

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