A September report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) shows that innovative activity and demand for intellectual property rights decreased during the global economic crisis, but is now returning. In 2008, the number of patent application filings increased 2.6%, the slowest rate since the early 2000s, but the number of Chinese patent applications grew 18.2%. Nonresident applications were more negatively affected than resident applications, indicating more short-term emphasis on home markets. Approximately 6.7 million patents were active worldwide, a 5.3% increase. There were 3,424 applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty System for energy-related patents in 2009, up from 584 in 2000. The majority of the report involves 2008 data, but preliminary 2009 data shows a decline in applications.

Source: WIPO