Global IP Watch: Analyzing the Record-Breaking IP Filings from WIPO’s 2025 Report

The global intellectual property (IP) landscape is sending a clear message: innovation is thriving. According to the latest World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2025 report from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), innovators and designers filed a record number of applications for patents and industrial designs in 2024. While trademark demand stabilized after a period of slowdown, the overall data reflects an economy that continues to place intellectual property at the very center of its business strategy.

For our clients—innovators, entrepreneurs, and multinational corporations—these figures underscore the urgent need for a robust and proactive global IP strategy. The statistics highlight key growth markets, emerging technological priorities, and shifting geographical drivers that must be monitored to ensure comprehensive protection for critical assets.

Patents

Patenting activity remains the strongest indicator of global R&D investment and economic confidence, growing for a fifth consecutive year. In 2024, global patent filings reached a record 3.7 million applications, representing a substantial 4.9% increase from 2023.

The engine driving this global growth was concentrated in Asia, with significant rises in filings by China, India, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.

• Leading Origins: Innovators residing in China (1.8 million), the US (501,831), and Japan (419,132) led the world in total patent filings.
• Fastest Movers: Among the top 20 origins, remarkable double-digit growth was recorded by nations signaling a sharp increase in domestic innovation. India surged by +19.1%, marking its sixth straight year of double-digit growth, driven primarily by its domestic resident filings. Other significant increases came from Finland (+15.4%) and Türkiye (+14.6%).

From a technological standpoint, the data confirms the primacy of digital innovation. In 2023 (the latest year for complete data), computer technology emerged as the most frequently featured technology in published patent applications, accounting for 13.2% of the world total. Furthermore, computer technology was the only top 10 field to have witnessed double-digit growth (+10.3%) between 2013 and 2023, showcasing the long-term, accelerating demand for protection in this sector.

Trademarks

Global demand for trademark protection showed signs of recovery. Trademark filings totaled 15.2 million classes in 2024, ending the year essentially flat with a minor –0.1% decline from 2023. This stabilization suggests that companies are re-committing to brand promotion and protection after navigating the economic uncertainties of the preceding years.

While China (7.3 million classes) and the US (836,457 classes) remained the highest volume origins for filing, both saw slight declines (-1.5% each). In contrast, several emerging economies recorded strong growth in brand protection: Brazil (+10.4%), India (+7.4%), and the Russian Federation (+2.9%) all experienced significant increases. The sharpest overall rise came from Argentina (+19.7%).

Crucially for cross-border IP strategy, the research and technology sector attracted the largest volume of applications for non-resident trademark protection, constituting 19.3% of global reported filings abroad. This indicates that tech companies are the most active in pursuing international protection for their brands, alongside sectors like health (14.1%) and clothing and accessories (12.2%).

Industrial Designs

Global design filing activity grew robustly, rising by 2.2% to reach 1.6 million designs in 2024. Industrial designs are vital for protecting the aesthetic or ornamental aspects of a product—from electronics to furniture—and their record growth highlights the increasing commercial importance of product appearance.

China was, by far, the most active origin with 906,849 designs filed. However, the data again points to an explosion of activity in new markets, with seven of the top 20 countries recording double-digit growth. India applicants led this surge, recording an astonishing +44.9% growth in design filings, followed by Morocco (+20.2%) and Indonesia (+18.9%).

The sectors seeing the most design protection activity worldwide were furniture and household goods (16.7%), and textiles and accessories (16.7%), underscoring the fierce competition in consumer goods markets where product look and feel are essential differentiators.

Legal Implications for Your Business

The 2024 WIPI data confirms that IP is no longer a niche legal concern but a central pillar of global commerce and competitiveness. The record filings in patents and designs, coupled with the stabilization of trademarks, demand a vigilant and adaptive IP strategy.

The shift in geographical growth drivers—particularly the explosive growth rates in India for all three IP rights, as well as Brazil and Argentina for trademarks—means that clients focused on expansion or manufacturing in these regions must urgently review and reinforce their local filing and enforcement strategies. To maintain market advantage, businesses must ensure their IP portfolios are comprehensive, covering not just the functional aspects of their invention (patents) and their brand name (trademarks), but also the product’s aesthetic appeal (designs). A robust and globally-aligned IP strategy is not just about protection; it is about sustaining trust and capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the world’s most dynamic economies.