World Intellectual Property Indicators 2010 published by WIPO on September 15 shows that innovative activity and demand for IP rights dipped during the global economic crisis in 2008 and 2009. However, China stood out in the patent filings while the majority of the countries suffered a slow down or decrease in applications. Preliminary 2009 data shows a drop in patent filings at nine offices which accounted for around 84% of worldwide patent filings, except for that of China, which exhibited growth of 8.5% in applications.

As a growing important engine for economic growth, China's patent applications grow by 18.2% in 2008 and 8.5% in 2009 while worldwide slumped according to WIPO. The worldwide number of utility model applications (313,000) and grants (238,000) grew by 15.3% and 12.2% respectively in 2008 and utility model applications in China increased by 24.4%.

(China IP News)