While the U.S. still remains the top nation overall for intellectual property rights, lags behind Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland in the category Patents, Related Rights and Limitations and trails in other key categories.
These are the findings of the 2020 U.S. Chamber of Commerce International IP Index, presented with the Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC). The U.S. is at or tied for the top spot in copyrights and trademarks, and it is 16th in Design Rights, just behind Turkey. In Trade Secret Protection, the U.S. was tied for 7th place with Italy.
For Commercialization of IP Assets, the U.S. is third, behind Australia and Israel. The U.S. remains top in Enforcement.
In Trade Secrets the U.S. is Tied for 7th Place with Italy
China’s scores have improved steadily, but the nation is in 28th place overall, a poor showing for the second largest economy.
Proven Record
At the reception for the 2020 Index last week in Washington, United States Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu was pleased with U.S. IP performance but warned the audience of IP holders, organizations and lawmakers not to be complacent:
“Choose your partners carefully. Take for example the upcoming election that we have at WIPO. If we are to be taken seriously that intellectual property is important to all of us, we must choose a next Director General of WIPO who comes from a country that respects intellectual property rights and [ensure that] the candidates themselves have a proven record of strong intellectual property protection.”
Beijing has stated publicly that it wishes to place the next Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). See IP CloseUp, China is Seeking to Place Wang Binying as Dir General of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
For the 2020 International IP Index criteria and methodology, and to download the full report, Art of the Possible, go here.
Image source: theglobalipcenter.com, 2020 International IP Index
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