IPO releases lists of top organisations and universities granted US patents

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

IPO releases lists of top organisations and universities granted US patents

The Intellectual Property Owners Association has revealed the top organisations and universities receiving US patents in 2014

The Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) recently released its list of the Top 300 Organisations Granted US Patents in 2014. It is the 32nd year the association has compiled the list.

The top four organisations remain the same, with IBM, Samsung, Canon and Sony keeping the top four spots. The top three organisations all posted increases in their number of patents granted in 2014 over the previous year, while Sony’s patents granted fell 3.1% to 3,214.

Microsoft, whose number of patents increased 6% over the previous year to 2,983, replaced LG at fifth spot. LG fell to 11th spot, with a 32% drop in patents granted to 2,119. Google posted a 31.6% increase in patents granted to move up to sixth post from 10th. Qualcomm posted a 24% increase to move up to eighth from 11th.

IPO is at pains to stress it does not attempt to answer the question of whether more patents are better. Patents granted to parent and subsidiary companies are combined in many instances.

The top 10 organisations are below.


The top 10 organisations granted US patents in 2014

Rank

Organisation

2014 patents

Percent change from 2013

1

International Business Machines

7,481

10.2

2

Samsung Electronics Co

4,936

6.1

3

Canon

4,172

6.5

4

Sony

3,214

-3.1

5

Microsoft

2,983

6.0

6

Google

2,881

31.6

7

Toshiba

2,850

6.4

8

Qualcomm

2,706

24.0

9

Panasonic

2,394

-9.6

10

General Electric

2,293

9.9

Source: Top 300 Organisations Granted US Patents in 2014


IPO, in collaboration with the National Academy of Inventors, also released a list of the Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted US Utility Patents in 2014. The University of California was easily in top spot, with 453 patents. It was followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with 275, and Tsinghua University, with 230. The top 10 universities are below. 


The top 10 worldwide universities granted US utilities patents 2014

Rank

University

Patents

1

University of California, The Regents Of

453

2

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

275

3

Tsinghua University

230

4

Stanford University

182

5

University of Texas

174

6

California Institute of Technology

172

7

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

153

8

John Hopkins University

140

9

Columbia University

119

10

University of Michigan

118

Source: Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted US Utility Patents in 2014

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Microsoft allegedly uses the HEVC technology in a range of products and offers an extension as an add-on
A group of five lawyers who joined Cleary Gottlieb say they want to help expand the firm’s IP litigation practice
As we build up to another busy year for the IP STARS rankings and our Managing IP Awards, we assess some of the major IP firms and trends in Germany
Florina Firaru discusses making new connections, the art of flower arranging, and the biggest misconception about IP
The firm, which appointed three IP partners from A&O Shearman, wants to develop a tier one practice in Europe
The England and Wales appeals court handed down its judgment just seven working days after hearing the trademark dispute involving pharma company Merck
A host of law firms from across Europe and beyond helped bring the streaming technology dispute to a close
Hugues Derème, director general of the Benelux IP Office, unveils his vision for the region, how to improve IP awareness, and use of AI
A copyright win for AI firm Anthropic and a new executive order against law firm Jenner & Block were also among the top talking points this week
A principal at Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner explains how AI tools, including DeepIP, can position the firm to help clients
Gift this article