Fewer International Trademark Filings in 2009 Parallels Global Economic Downturn
Did you cut down on new branding projects last year to save money? If you did, you're not alone. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reported that international trademark filings last year decreased by 16 percent, and U.S. filings dropped more than 13 percent from 2008. In 2009, 35,195 international trademark applications flowed through WIPO's system, compared with 42,075 applications in 2008. USPTO trademark filings for 2009 dipped to 352,051 applications from 401,392 in 2008.
While most countries experienced fewer filings, filings in some countries increased. Filings from Japan rose a modest 3 percent, while filings in the South Korea increased by 33 percent and Singapore by 21 percent. WIPO Director General Francis Gurry noted that demand for intellectual property rights had reached unprecedented levels prior to the economic crisis and we have every reason to believe that international trademark activity will pick up as economic growth solidifies and broadens. Trademark filings are already up in 2010. Hopefully the economy will follow suit.
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