THE WORLD: The Patent Grants by Country of Origin

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) published a list of the Top 20 countries according to patent applications and patent grants.

South Africa ranks 16th among the countries for patents granted, with 5 296 patents granted in 2012. Patents are granted according to the applicant’s country of origin. For example, if a South African applicant applies for a patent in the United States, this is added to the South African patent total and not to that of the United States.

* The European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the two organs of the European Patent Organisation (EPOrg), the other being the Administrative Council.

The EPO acts as executive body for the EPOrg, while the Administrative Council acts as its supervisory body as well as, to a limited extent, its legislative body. The actual legislative power to revise the European Patent Convention lies with the Contracting States themselves when meeting at a Conference of the Contracting States.

Within the European Patent Office, examiners are in charge of studying European patent applications filed by applicants, in order to decide whether to grant a patent for an invention.

Patents granted by the European Patent Office are called European patents.