Photographs: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
There are many companies that apply for patents every year, including many in India, but which are the biggest companies in the world when it comes to securing patents?
Let's take a look at some companies that were granted most patents in 2012.
Source: ificlaims.com
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: A view of IBM headquarters at la Defense in Paris.Photographs: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters
International Business Machines
Country: United States
Patents granted: 6,478
Global rank: 1
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: An employee of Samsung Electronics walks past LED lighting drums displayed at a showroom in Seoul.Photographs: Jo Yong hak/Reuters
Samsung Electronics
Country: South Korea
Patents granted: 5,081
Global rank: 2
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Canon's headquarters in Tokyo.Photographs: Stringer/Reuters
Canon
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 3,174
Global rank: 3
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Sony's headquarters in Tokyo.Photographs: Yuriko Nakao/Reuters
Sony
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 3,032
Global rank: 4
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Panasonic's showroom in Tokyo.Photographs: Toru Hanai/Reuters
Panasonic
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 2,769
Global rank: 5
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Microsoft's headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris.Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters
Microsoft
Country: United States
Patents granted: 2,613
Global rank: 6
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Toshiba's headquarters in Tokyo.Photographs: Stringer/Reuters
Toshiba
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 2,447
Global rank: 7
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Hong Hai headquarters in Tucheng, Taipei county, Taiwan.Photographs: Pichi Chuang/Reuters
Hon Hai Precision Industry
Country: Taiwan
Patents granted: 2,013
Global rank: 8
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: GE Building, also known as 30 Rockefeller Plaza, in New York.Photographs: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
General Electric
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,652
Global rank: 9
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Models pose next to a LG Electronics' OLED television in Seoul.Photographs: Lee Jae Won/Reuters
LG Electronics
Country: South Korea
Patents granted: 1,624
Global rank: 10
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: A man takes a look at Fujitsu's laptop at an electronics store in Tokyo.Photographs: Yuriko Nakao/Reuters
Fujitsu
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 1,535
Global rank: 11
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: A view of Seiko Epson's TV in Tokyo.Photographs: Issei Kato/Reuters
Seiko Epson
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 1,461
Global rank: 12
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: A logo of Hitachi in Tokyo.Photographs: Toru Hanai/Reuters
Hitachi
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 1,436
Global rank: 13
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Ricoh headquarters in Tokyo.Photographs: Toru Hanai/Reuters
Ricoh
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 1,410
Global rank: 14
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Hewlett-Packard's Belgian headquarters in Diegem near Brussels.Photographs: Thierry Roge/Reuters
Hewlett-Packard Development
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,394
Global rank: 15
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Detroit's skyline, including General Motors Global Headquarters, is seen along the Detroit River from Windsor, Canada.Photographs: Rebecca Cook/Reuters
GM Global Technology Operations
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,377
Global rank: 16
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: A view of Qualcomm's San Diego Campus in California.Photographs: Mike Blake/Reuters
Qualcomm
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,292
Global rank: 17
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Intel headquarters in Santa Clara, California.Photographs: Robert Galbraith/Reuters
Intel
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,290
Global rank: 18
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Toyota's design centre building in Toyota, central Japan.Photographs: Yuriko Nakao/Reuters
Toyota Jidosha
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 1,285
Global rank: 19
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Broadcom's logo in Taipei, Taiwan.Photographs: Pichi Chuang/Reuters
Broadcom
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,157
Global rank: 20
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: A photobooth at the headquarters of Google France in Paris.Photographs: Jacques Brinon/Pool/Reuters
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,151
Global rank: 21
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.Photographs: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Apple
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,136
Global rank: 22
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Honda's headquarters in Tokyo.Photographs: Yuriko Nakao/Reuters
Honda Motor
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 1,132
Global rank: 23
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: A Sharp booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.Photographs: Rick Wilking/Reuters
Sharp
Country: Japan
Patents granted: 1,118
Global rank: 24
...
25 companies granted most patents in 2012
Image: Xerox headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, United States.Photographs: Chip East/Reuters
Xerox
Country: United States
Patents granted: 1,050
Global rank: 25
article