TL;DR
IFI CLAIMS reports U.S. patent activity declined again in 2025, with Apple slipping to seventh after receiving 2,722 grants — an 11.6% drop from 2024. Overall U.S. applications and grants fell, while AI investment and a shift in some chip patent classes were notable trends.
What happened
Patent analytics firm IFI CLAIMS released its annual review of U.S. patent activity for 2025, finding a continued multi-year decline in filings and grants. The United States recorded 393,344 patent applications in 2025, down 8.6% from 2024, while total U.S. patent grants edged down 0.2% to 323,272. Apple received 2,722 U.S. patent grants for 2025, a decrease from 3,082 in 2024, dropping the company to seventh place in the corporate rankings. Samsung Electronics led all companies with 7,054 grants (up 10.6%), followed by TSMC, Qualcomm, Huawei and Samsung Display. Taiwan recorded the highest growth rate in U.S. grants (more than 12%), and the U.S., Japan and China remained the top countries by count. IFI CLAIMS also highlighted shifts in chip-related patent codes and noted an ongoing industry emphasis on AI investment.
Why it matters
- Patent counts are a common indicator of corporate R&D output; changes can reflect shifts in strategy or focus.
- Apple’s drop in rank and reduced grants may influence perceptions of its patent momentum relative to competitors.
- The report signals broader industry shifts — sustained interest in AI and changes in semiconductor patent classes could affect future tech development.
- Shifts in national filing trends (e.g., Taiwan’s growth) show changing geographic dynamics in U.S. patent activity.
Key facts
- IFI CLAIMS published the 2025 U.S. patent activity report.
- U.S. patent applications in 2025: 393,344, down 8.6% from 2024.
- U.S. patent grants in 2025: 323,272, down 0.2% year-over-year.
- Apple received 2,722 U.S. patent grants in 2025, an 11.6% decline from 3,082 in 2024, placing it seventh.
- Samsung Electronics led companies with 7,054 grants, up 10.6% from the prior year.
- Top corporate filers following Samsung included TSMC, Qualcomm, Huawei and Samsung Display; Canon, Toyota, Dell and LG Electronics rounded out the top 10.
- IBM fell to 11th place — its first time outside the top 10 in over three decades; IFI CLAIMS says IBM is prioritizing select areas like cloud and AI rather than sheer grant volume.
- Traditional chip patents under code H01L declined about 20% year-over-year, while H10D (inorganic semiconductor devices) appeared on the top-20 lists for both grants and applications.
- Taiwan posted the highest growth rate in U.S.-granted patents at more than 12%.
What to watch next
- Whether the downward trend in U.S. patent applications and grants continues in the next IFI CLAIMS report.
- Ongoing growth in H10D (inorganic semiconductor device) filings and whether that pattern signals broader industry adoption of next-generation chip technologies.
- not confirmed in the source: whether Apple will change its patent-filing strategy or priorities in response to the decline in grants and drop in ranking.
Quick glossary
- Patent grant: A government-issued right that gives an inventor exclusive control over an invention for a limited period, typically after an application is examined and approved.
- Patent application: A formal submission to a patent office describing an invention and requesting the grant of a patent; it begins the examination process.
- IFI CLAIMS: A patent data and analytics company that tracks global patent filings and grants and produces annual reports on patent activity.
- H01L: An international patent classification code covering semiconductor technology and devices (traditional chip patents).
- H10D: A patent classification for inorganic semiconductor devices such as transistors and diodes; flagged in the report as appearing in top lists for both grants and applications.
Reader FAQ
How many patents did Apple receive in 2025?
Apple received 2,722 U.S. patent grants in 2025, down from 3,082 in 2024.
Which company had the most U.S. patent grants in 2025?
Samsung Electronics led with 7,054 U.S. patent grants, an increase of 10.6% year-over-year.
Is IBM’s lower rank a sign it’s losing innovation?
According to IFI CLAIMS, IBM’s drop to 11th reflects an intentional shift to focus on select areas such as cloud computing and AI rather than pursuing the highest number of grants.
Are chip-related patents increasing?
Traditional chip patents classified under H01L declined about 20% year-over-year, while H10D (inorganic semiconductor devices) grew into the top-20 lists, indicating a change in patent focus.
Will Apple’s patent drop affect its products?
not confirmed in the source
Apple debuts ‘Apple Creator Studio’ subscription, here’s what you get Chance Miller Jan 13 2026 AAPL COMPANY PATENTS Apple drops to 7th in U.S. patent rankings for 2025 as grants…
Sources
- Apple drops to 7th in U.S. patent rankings for 2025 as grants fall 11%, per report
- 2025 U.S. Patent Grants Also Down
- Apple's Patent Grants Declined in 2025 as Innovation Slows
- U.S. Patent Applications Decrease Dramatically One Year …
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