1. FICPI Australia Annual Conference
“The Economic Climate and its
Impact on IP in Australia”
Saturday 29 August 2009
Sebel Manly Beach Hotel, Sydney

2. Overview
Global Financial Crisis – The Impact on IP Australia
GFC and patenting activity in specific technology areas
Trends in relation to country of origin for new filings
Patent Application Rates
Trade Mark Application Rates
Abandonment statistics
How will IP Australia respond?
Our Priorities
The Future – Promoting Ongoing Innovation

3. Global Financial Crisis - The Impact on IP Australia
IP Australia’s budget is 95% dependant on fees
Applications and renewals
GFC is leading to revenue decline
As expected, IP Australia has seen an overall downturn in applications since the GFC began
No compelling trends emerge from individual technology data
Changes in the volume and direction of individual technology data, although averaging downward, are generally erratic
This may owe more to the nature of ongoing projects than to the GFC

4. Global Financial Crisis - The Impact on IP Australia
Trends in country-of-origin data do relate more clearly to the GFC
US especially hard-hit
yet most applications still come from the US and other top-ten countries of origin . . .
. . . while the remainder continue to be modest contributors
Expect the main countries of origin to remain the same, and the volume of applications to resume once the GFC begins to fade

5. Global Financial Crisis - The Impact on IP Australia
Revenue from applications down
Trade marks – 09/10 is down 15% from 07/08
Patents – 09/10 is down 10-15% from 07/08
Revenue from renewals not declining to same extent
Renewal revenue will allow IP Australia to continue major projects
Overall decline is consistent with other IP offices

6. Standard Patent Applications by Technology – Trends During GFC
Some individual sectors decreased substantially more than average
Greatest percentage decline in individual sectors, when comparing Oct 07 – July 08 to Oct 08 – July 09:
mechanical tools (down 33%)
macromolecular chemistry, polymers (down 32%)
Greatest absolute decline in individual sectors over these periods:
organic fine chemicals (down from 2318 to 1939)
biotechnology (down from 1173 to 906)
information technology (down from 1409 to 1145)

7. Standard Patent Applications by Technology – Trends During GFC

8. Standard Patent Applications by Technology – Trends During GFC
Some individual sectors increased substantially more than average
Greatest percentage increase in individual sectors, when comparing Oct 07 – July 08 to Oct 08 – July 09 :
engines, pumps, turbines (up 20%)
general processes (up 6%)
Greatest absolute increase in individual sectors over these periods:
engines, pumps, turbines (up from 298 to 356)
general processes (up from 588 to 625)
telecommunications (up from 806 to 830)

9. Standard Patent Applications by Technology – Trends During GFC

10. Standard Patent Applications by Country of Origin – Trends During GFC
In comparison, the relatively few increases have been very modest
When comparing Oct 07 – July 08 to Oct 08 – July 09:
France, up from 602 to 609
Netherlands, up from 501 to 508
Russia, up from 8 to 19
PRC, up from 159 to 178

11. Standard Patent Applications by Country of Origin – Trends During GFC - Increases

12. Standard Patent Applications by Country of Origin – Trends During GFC - Decreases

13. Standard Patent Applications by Country of Origin – Trends During GFC
Top 10 Sources of Australian Standard Applications
Oct 2007 – July 2008
Oct 2008 – July 2009 US
Australia
Japan
Germany
Switzerland
United Kingdom
France
Netherlands
Canada
Sweden

14. Impact – Trade Mark Application Rates (by month)

15. Impact – Trade Mark Application Rates (variation)

16. Impact – Patent Application Rates (by month)

17. Impact – Patent Application Rates (variation)

18. Abandonment of patent applications

19. Patent Application Lapses – Top 10 Countries

20. Patent Application Lapses – United States

21. Patent Application Lapses – Australia

22. Patent Application Lapses – Germany

23. Patent Application Lapses – Japan

24. Patent Application Lapses – United Kingdom

25. Renewals

26. How will IP Australia respond?
Opportunity to reduce patent backlog
Invest in IT infrastructure
Including electronic communications and improved trade mark systems
New approach to quality
Move forward with conservative budget

27. The Future – Promoting Ongoing Innovation
Vocational Education & Training Project
Raise IP awareness with Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Ongoing support of existing products and services
IP Rights Reform – Details available via

28. Thank you
Philip Noonan
Director General
IP Australia