IFI CLAIMSR compiles list of year's top patent winners

IBM Tops List for 12th straight year;
2004 represents first decline in total U.S. patents issued since 1995
WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 11, 2005 -- IFI CLAIMS(r) Patent Services, part
of Wolters Kluwer Health, today issued its annual compilation of top
patent winners for 2004. IBM Corporation once again was at the top of
the list, leading all organizations receiving U.S. patents. With 3,277
patents granted, IBM was awarded 1,312 more patents than the number two
ranked company, Matsushita Electric Industrial Company of Japan, which
came in with 1,965.

For the first time since 1995, total U.S. patents issued have declined.
In 2004, a total of 164,402 were issued, down 2.7 percent from 2003.
U.S. organizations led all industries with 23 of the top 50 slots
followed by Japanese based organizations in the number two position
holding down 16 of the top 50 slots.

To read the full text of the release and view a list of the top patent
winners, click here:
 <http://www.ificlaims.com/press_release012005.html>
http://www.ificlaims.com/press_release012005.html

Darlene Slaughter
General Manager
IFI CLAIMS Patent Services
A division of Wolters Kluwer Health

302-633-7200
302-998-0733 (fax)

dslaughter_at_ificlaims.com





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Received on Fri Jan 14 2005 - 23:48:14