Canon places top five in U.S. patent rankings for 35 years running and first among Japanese companies for 16 years running

January 25, 2021— Canon Inc. ranked third for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2020, becoming the only company in the world to have ranked in the top five for 35 years running, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. What’s more, Canon once again ranked first among Japanese companies.

Canon actively promotes the globalization of its business and places great value on obtaining patents overseas, carefully adhering to a patent-filing strategy that pursues patents in essential countries and regions while considering the business strategies and technology and product trends unique each location. Among these, the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large market scale, represents a critical region in business expansion and technology alliances.

Canon U.S. patent rankings 2005–2020

Year	Overall ranking	Ranking among Japanese companies	No. of patents
2020	3rd	1st	3,226
2019	3rd	1st	3,548
2018	3rd	1st	3,051
2017	3rd	1st	3,284
2016	3rd	1st	3,662
2015	3rd	1st	4,127
2014	3rd	1st	4,048
2013	3rd	1st	3,820
2012	3rd	1st	3,173
2011	3rd	1st	2,818
2010	4th	1st	2,551
2009	4th	1st	2,200
2008	3rd	1st	2,107
2007	3rd	1st	1,983
2006	3rd	1st	2,368
2005	2nd	1st	1,829

Note: The number of patents for 2020 is based on figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2019 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Canon promotes the acquisition and utilization of intellectual property rights, not only for fundamental technologies required for next-generation products but also for wireless communication and image compression technologies shared by next-generation social infrastructure. In addition to the patent acquisition, in May 2020, Canon joined the COVID-19 Countermeasure Declaration as a founding member to help bring a swift end to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to this declaration, Canon has pledged not to enforce its intellectual property rights against development, manufacturing, and other activities whose purpose is stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Canon contributes to the realization of technology that serves society by providing even better products, greater convenience, and contributing to the development of manufacturing.