---
title: Why IBM gave up its patent crown on purpose
description: In 2022, IBM saw a 44% decline in utility patents issued.
---

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# [Why IBM gave up its patent crown on purpose](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/01102023-ibm-patents)

 Written by [Jacob Cohen](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/jacob-cohen) | Jan 10, 2023 8:29:53 AM

For 29 years, IBM had filed more utility patents annually than any other company.

That is, until Samsung took the crown in 2022 with [8,513](https://harrityllp.com/patent300/) patents, compared to IBM’s 4,743 — a 44% annual decline for the company, and one made on purpose.

**On purpose?**

Yes, on purpose. Why? “One word,” [writes](https://fortune.com/2023/01/06/ibm-patent-record-how-to-measure-innovation-open-source-quantum-computing-tech/) director of IBM research Dario Gil, in a *Fortune* piece. “Focus.”

The areas of focus, he says, are hybrid cloud, data and AI, automation, security, semiconductors, and quantum computing.

- Gil [told](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-06/ibm-loses-top-patent-spot-after-decades-as-ip-leader?sref=3Ac2yX40) *Bloomberg* the change will “free engineers from the time-consuming patent process.”
- He also explained that IBM increasingly sees collaboration as a means toward innovation, which should be measured not just by patent count or R&D dollars, but by the life-changing applications that this strategy will help IBM pursue.

**BTW: **TikTok owner ByteDance — though filing far fewer patents, with 160 in 2020 — saw its patent output increase 84% YoY.

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/01102023-ibm-patents)

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