This document summarizes a study on patents filed in France in 1999. It finds that of the 16,868 patent applications filed, 12,673 were granted. Large companies accounted for nearly 60% of the 8,521 patents granted to French corporate bodies. Over time, the number of patents remaining in force decreased, with just under 25% still active after 16 years. Factors like citations, number of claims, and litigation supported longer patent lifetimes, while rejected extensions at the EPO led to shorter ones.

1. Tale of patents
filed in France in
1999
Emmanuelle Fortune
24th April 2018

2. 2 /
Why this study?
► Few surveys about the story of patents in force
► Objective: Analysis of the story of patents filed in
1999 at the INPI (on going work)
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018

3. 3 /
Background of the study
1st census of
French patent
applicants
conducted in 1999
Allow us to identify
French patent
applicants and
follow patents filed
in 1999 at the INPI
organised
jointly by
Bpifrance
and INPI
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018

4. 4 /
Methodology of the study
►Identification of French applicants in the
French patent database
►Foreign corporate bodies
►French corporate bodies
• Research organizations and public firms
• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
• Intermediate-sized companies
• Large companies
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018

5. 5 /
From patent applications…
16 868
patents filed
at INPI in
1999
12 673
granted
patents
75% of
granted
patents
Source : INPI 2017
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018
2 years after filling
57% granted
patents

6. 6 /
… to granted patents
12 673 granted
patents
8 521 granted
patents by French
corporate bodies
67% of
granted
patents
Source : INPI 2017
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018

7. 7 /
Which actors?
Number of granted patents of patents filed in
1999 at INPI
% of the granted patents
and filed by French
corporate bodies in 1999
at INPI
8 521 granted patents by French corporate bodiesSource : INPI 2017
9%
58%
25%
8%
Intermediate-sized companies
Large companies
SMEs
Research organizations and public firms
740
4 931
2 131
716
3
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Intermediate-sized
companies
Large companies SMEs Research
organizations and
public firms
Indetermined
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018

8. 8 /
International extension of patents filed in 1999 at INPI
And where?
Source : INPI 2017

9. 9 /
Trend between 1999 and 2017
Number and % of patents in force by year
Source : INPI 2017
100%
99% 95%
89%
80%
70%
62%
55%
49%
42% 38% 35% 31% 28% 25% 21%
4%
0%
12673 12656 12546
12005
11339
10136
8882
7830
6997
6243
5310
4808
4384
3943
3520
3115
2676
511
0
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018
9 years 16 years after filing

10. 10 /
Number and % of patents in force by year
Source : INPI 2017
100%
99% 95%
89%
80%
70%
62%
55%
49%
42% 38% 35% 31% 28% 25% 21%
4%
0%
12673 12656 12546
12005
11339
10136
8882
7830
6997
6243
5310
4808
4384
3943
3520
3115
2676
511
0
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018
5 years after filing
Trend between 1999 and 2017

11. 11 /
% of patents in force and renewal fees by year
Source : INPI 2017
100%
99% 95%
89%
80%
70%
62%
55%
49%
42% 38% 35% 31% 28% 25% 21%
4%
0%
36 € 36 €
72 €
92 €
130 €
170 €
210 €
250 €
290 €
330 €
380 €
430 €
490 €
550 €
620 €
690 €
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
0 €
100 €
200 €
300 €
400 €
500 €
600 €
700 €
IC-SDV, April 24, 2018
5 years after filing
Trend between 1999 and 2017

12. 12 /
Factors with a positive influence on the
maintenance of patents
Source : INPI 2017
Factors with a
positive
influence on the
maintenance of
patents
At least one
citation
Number of
claims
Litigation before
French Courts

13. 13 /
Factors with a positive influence on the
maintenance of patents
% of patents in force that survived after litigation before
French Courts by year
Source : INPI 2017
0,0%
10,0%
20,0%
30,0%
40,0%
50,0%
60,0%
70,0%
80,0%
90,0%
100,0%
% patent in force (all 12673 patents)
% patents in force after litigation (168 patents)

14. 14 /
Factors with a positive influence on the
maintenance of patents
% of patents in force by number of claims by year
Source : INPI 2017
0,0%
10,0%
20,0%
30,0%
40,0%
50,0%
60,0%
70,0%
80,0%
90,0%
100,0%
ClaimsNB ≤ 2 3 ≤ claimsNB ≤ 10 ClaimsNB ≥ 10

15. 15 /
Factors with a positive influence on the
maintenance of patents
Source : INPI 2017
% of patents in force by number of citation by year
0,0%
10,0%
20,0%
30,0%
40,0%
50,0%
60,0%
70,0%
80,0%
90,0%
100,0%
% patent in force with at least one citation
% patents in force with no citation

16. 16 /
Factor with a negative influence on the maintenance
of patents
Source : INPI 2017
Factor with a
negative
influence on the
maintenance of
patents
Rejected
extension at the
EPO

17. 17 /
Factor with a negative influence on the maintenance
of patents
Source : INPI 2017
A difference of 1.5 year of the average year of
maintenance
7,5
9
0 5
Granted patents with a rejected
extension at the EPO
All granted patents
Average age

18. 18 /
• Issue of applicant identification for studies
in the patent database
• Factors with a positive influence on the
maintenance of patents
• Factors with a negative influence on the
maintenance of patents
Conclusion

19. 19 /
Further information on INPI studies
published:
https://www.inpi.fr/fr/services-et-prestations-
domaine/etudes-chiffres-cles
efortune@inpi.fr
Thank you!