Drone Intellectual Property Index Q2 2015

Drone Intellectual Property Index Q2 2015
© ATIP Law 2015

Drone Intellectual Property Index Q2 2015

The number of granted drone patents decreased 20% while the number of published drone patent applications increased 20%.

The number of registered drone trademarks increased 40% and the number of drone trademarks applications increased 55%.

Overall, the index increased 16% in the second quarter of 2015.

The done industry continues to innovate and invest in patent protection as reflected in the increase in patent applications. The decrease in granted patents is likely due to normal fluctuations in the examination process and pendency lag.

The increase in new and registered trademarks indicates strong growth in new drone products, services and businesses in the drone industry.

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.