2014 Drone IP Index
© ATIP Law 2015
Drone Intellectual Property Index 2014
The Drone Intellectual Property Index increased 54% in 2014. Granted patents increased 13%, published patent applications increased 82%, registered trademarks increased 14% and trademark applications increased 114%. This represents a major surge in intellectual property investment in the drone industry.
The Index has increased 142% since 2010. As seen in the chart above, 2011 was the only down year. The index declined 8% in this year due mostly to a reduction in published patent applications (26%). We believe the Index will again increase significantly in 2015.
X-47B US Navy Drone
Definitions
We attempt to limit the Drone Intellectual Property Index to patents and patent applications that appear to be substantially related to and specifically intended for use with drones. Since drones use a very wide range of technologies (please see our drone technology article), we do not attempt to include every patent or application that could be applied to drones.
As we use it here, the term “drone” includes any autonomous vehicle.
Drone patent applications are applications that have been filed with and published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Although most applications are published, a small percentage (about 7% nation wide) are not published for various reasons. Patent applications are generally published 18 months after the first priority date of the application. Published applications have not necessarily been examined and some applications will be abandoned after publication. Once an application is examined and approved and all fees and formalities have been satisfied, the Patent Office grants a patent.
Drone trademark applications are applications that have been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and that are related to drone products and services. Once a trademark application has been examined and approved and all requirements and formalities have been satisfied, it becomes a registered trademark.
More Information
Please see our intellectual property page for more information on intellectual property, our patent page for more information on patents and our trademark page for more information on trademarks.
Please contact us if we can be of assistance to you.