The global sports industry experienced an 11% decline in patent filings in Q4 2023 compared with the previous quarter. The total number of grants dropped by 11%, resulting in overall patent publications decreasing by 11.6%, according to GlobalData’s Patent Analytics.

Notably, the number of patent applications in the sports industry was 2,758 in Q4 2023, versus 3,121 in the prior quarter. Filings were down 22% year-on-year and decrease 11% quarter-on-quarter. This compares to a 22% year-on-year decrease in patent grants and 11% decline in quarter-on-quarter.

The top five companies accounted for 16% of patenting activity

Analysis of patenting activity by companies shows that the largest number of patents filed over the last quarter was by NIKE with 182, followed by Shimano with 114 and Ping with 72.

Patenting activity was driven by the US with a 32% share of total patent filings

The largest share of patent filings in the sports industry in Q4 2023 was in the US with 32%, followed by China (22%) and Japan (8%). The share represented by the US was 5% higher than the 27% share it accounted for in Q3 2023.

This content was updated on 23 January 2024

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