Algorithmic patent applications surging

The rise of big data and analytics has triggered a corresponding surge in the number of patent applications involving algorithms, according to Gartner.

In a blog post, Doug Laney, Gartner research vice president for business analytics and performance management, noted that patent applications involving algorithms have increase thirty-fold in the past 15 years.

Citing analysis from recent Gartner Cool Vendor AULIVE, Laney said nearly 17,000 patent applications filed in 2015 mention algorithm in the title or description, compared to just 570 in 2000.

Including patents mentioning algorithm anywhere in the document, there were over 100,000 patents last year compared to 28,000 just five years ago. At this rate of growth, by 2020 there could be nearly 250 million patent applications mentioning algorithms.

Patent applications mentioning algorithms are granted around 60% of the time, slightly lower than the 66% for applications on devices or products.

IBM has been the top filer of algorithmic patent applications over the past 15 years with 2100, Laney said, followed by Microsoft (1500), Samsung (1400), Huawei (1300) and Qualcomm (1300).

But there has been a significant increase in patent applications coming from Chinese companies and universities. In 2015 nine of the 10 top applicants hailed from the country.

“Particularly conspicuous is that most Chinese patent applications mentioning ‘algorithm’ the past year have titles including the words like detection, sensing or controlling. While those from IBM, Microsoft and Apple predominantly mention: information processing, computing, memory, storage, documents, data, cloud, power, filtering, visualisation, and customer experience related topics,” Laney said.

“If I were to draw conclusions from this, it seems the Chinese are making a concerted effort to (1) corner the market on Internet-of-Things (IoT) related IP, (2) mollify their reputation (right or wrong) for IP larceny by flooding patent offices with their own IP, and/or (3) plotting to litigate the US into IP oblivion.”

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