Calendar Year 1991 Patenting Trends


During 1991, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a record
106,842 patents (including utility, design, plant, and reissue
patents and statutory invention registrations), about 8 percent
more than were issued in 1990. Of these 1991 patents, 57,784
(54.1 percent) were issued to U.S. - resident inventors while
49,058 (45.9 percent) were issued to inventors residing outside
the United States. The U.S.- resident inventor share of patents
increased for the third straight year.

The number of U.S. patents granted to residents of Japan
increased 8 percent in 1991 and the Japan - resident inventor
share of all patents was also up slightly at 21.0 percent for
1991 from a 20.9 percent share in 1990. While U.S. patents
granted to residents of Germany increased slightly in 1991, the
German - resident inventor share of all patents dropped to 7.5
percent from a 7.9 percent share in 1990.

The number of U.S. - resident inventor patents which were
unassigned or assigned to an individual at the time of grant
(primarily "independent inventor" patents) increased for 1991 to
16,220 patents while comprising an unchanged 15.2 percent of
total grants.

More detailed data is available in miscellaneous statistical
reports from the Technology Assessment and Forecast
Program.


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Questions regarding this report should be directed to:
(address updated 4/96)
             U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
             Office of Electronic Information Products
             Technology Assessment and Forecast Program
             PK3-Suite 441
             Washington, DC  20231

             tel (703) 306-2600
             FAX (703) 306-2737

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SOURCE:          U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
                 Technology Assessment and Forecast Program    3-3-92