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Global Generative AI Patent Landscape: How Does New Zealand Measure Up?
Ilan Gross
11 December 2024
The Global GenAI Patent Landscape: Where Does New Zealand Stand?
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has rapidly emerged as a focal point of global innovation, with thousands of patent filings shaping the competitive landscape. The World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Patent Landscape Report on Generative AI offers a comprehensive view of where different countries and organizations stand in this burgeoning field (WIPO, 2023). See Lumen’s AI Consulting Services
Global Leaders in GenAI Patent Families (2014–2023)
According to WIPO’s analysis, the global GenAI patent landscape between 2014 and 2023 is overwhelmingly dominated by a handful of nations. The top countries, measured by the number of GenAI patent families, are:
- China: Over 38,000 patent families (74.7% of global filings)
- United States: 6,300 patent families
- Republic of Korea: 4,155 patent families
- Japan: 3,409 patent families
- India: 1,350 patent families (notably the highest growth rate at 56%)
- United Kingdom: 714 patent families
- Germany: 708 patent families
These seven countries alone represent approximately 94% of all GenAI patent activity worldwide (WIPO, 2023).
Leading Organizations in GenAI Innovation
The WIPO report also identifies the top organizations fueling GenAI innovation. The leading patent holders in this field include:
- Tencent Holdings (China)
- Ping An Insurance Group (China)
- Baidu (China)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
- IBM (United States)
- Alibaba Group (China)
- Samsung Electronics (Republic of Korea)
- Alphabet Inc. (United States)
- ByteDance (China)
- Microsoft (United States)
These entities are at the cutting edge of GenAI development, contributing to advances in sectors ranging from healthcare and finance to entertainment and transportation (WIPO, 2023).
Where Does New Zealand Stand?
Amid this global innovation surge, New Zealand does not appear among the leading countries in GenAI patent filings. The country’s absence in the top rankings suggests a relatively low level of GenAI-related patent activity. This raises important questions:
Are current national strategies and policies sufficiently encouraging GenAI research and development?
How can New Zealand foster an environment that attracts GenAI innovators and investors?
What role should industry, academia, and government play in positioning New Zealand within the global GenAI landscape?
Addressing these questions will be crucial if New Zealand aims to compete and collaborate effectively in an increasingly GenAI-driven world.
Conclusion
The global GenAI patent landscape, as described by WIPO’s detailed analysis, shows clear regional and organizational leaders dominating a field set to influence countless industries. China, the United States, the Republic of Korea, and a small cohort of other countries are paving the way, supported by leading technology companies and research institutions. As New Zealand looks to carve out its place, understanding the current patent landscape is the first step toward developing a robust GenAI innovation ecosystem.
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Reference
World Intellectual Property Organization. (2023). WIPO Patent Landscape Report on Generative AI. Retrieved from https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4649