Highest Number
Domestic firms have ranked high on the list of design patent and trademark registrations in the United States.
According to data from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the U.S. on Sept. 29, Samsung Electronics ranked top in the design sector of the U.S. design patent and trademark registration list last year, while LG Electronics ranked third in the trademark sector, said the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
Unlike South Korea, the U.S. protects designs as a patent. Samsung Electronics ranked first with 836 cases, followed by Microsoft with 329 cases, and LG Electronics with 307 cases. Apple came in fifth with 190 cases. Samsung Electronics has maintained its first top place in the design sector in the last three years.
In the trademark sector, LG Electronics ranked third with 156 cases, while Samsung Electronics took fifth place with 143 cases. Mattel and Disney ranked first and second with 426 cases and 186 cases, respectively.