Google and Apple also crack the top 20 in patents -- but the search giant has a slight edge in patents awarded. January 14, 2014 7:30 AM PST IBM Research investigates supercomputing, nanotechnology, medicine, and more at its Zurich labs. (Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET) IBM takes the US patent crown again for 2013, but Qualcomm debuted in the top 10 and Google nudged out Apple as they cracked the top 20. According to data from IFI Claims Patent Services, IBM had a record 6,809 patents and has been the top dog for the last 21 years. Samsung was No. 2 and Canon was No. 3. Related stories Samsung Galaxy S5 could include head tracking Apple didn't infringe on Google patent, appeals court says IBM plugs $1B into new Watson supercomputer effort Qualcomm had a 62 percent jump in patents awarded in 2013 compared to 2012 and landed in the No. 9 spot. Microsoft was No. 5. Among the top 10 rankings there were three US companies, four Japanese companies -- Canon, Sony, Panasonic, and Toshiba -- and two Korean electronics giants -- Samsung and LG. Google and Apple also made the top 20 list, but the search giant was awarded 1,851 patents in the US to its mobile rival's 1,775. A few more items worth noting:
Google and Apple also crack the top 20 in patents -- but the search giant has a slight edge in patents awarded.
IBM Research investigates supercomputing, nanotechnology, medicine, and more at its Zurich labs.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
IBM takes the US patent crown again for 2013, but Qualcomm debuted in the top 10 and Google nudged out Apple as they cracked the top 20.
According to data from IFI Claims Patent Services, IBM had a record 6,809 patents and has been the top dog for the last 21 years. Samsung was No. 2 and Canon was No. 3.
Related stories
- Samsung Galaxy S5 could include head tracking
- Apple didn't infringe on Google patent, appeals court says
- IBM plugs $1B into new Watson supercomputer effort
Qualcomm had a 62 percent jump in patents awarded in 2013 compared to 2012 and landed in the No. 9 spot. Microsoft was No. 5.
Among the top 10 rankings there were three US companies, four Japanese companies -- Canon, Sony, Panasonic, and Toshiba -- and two Korean electronics giants -- Samsung and LG.
Google and Apple also made the top 20 list, but the search giant was awarded 1,851 patents in the US to its mobile rival's 1,775.
A few more items worth noting:
