IBM is the #1 Innovator in Information Technology Industry, According to The Patent Board's Patent Scorecard™

The leading industry source for patent analysis ranks IBM the #1 innovator in the Information Technology industry, with Microsoft Corp. ranked second, and gaining in patent innovation. The Patent Scorecard rankings are notable for ranking patent portfolios not just on the quantity of patents filed, but also using a distinct set of quality measures.

(PRWEB) February 1, 2007 -- IBM continues to dominate the information technology industry as the number one source of global innovation, according to a qualitative and quantitative analysis of 2006 patent portfolios released in the annual Patent Scorecard™. The Patent Scorecard reviews all patent activity in the information technology sector and is published by The Patent Board, the leading independent provider of tools and metrics for patent analysis and intellectual property investing. The Patent Scorecard uses the Patent Board's industry-standard data and proprietary analytical tools to assess patent value, and ranks companies worldwide in 17 different industry sectors.

In 2006, IBM published nearly twice as many information technology patents (2,725) as the number two innovator the list, Microsoft Corporation (1,470). But Patent Scorecard rankings are not solely based on the number of patents filed by a company; the quality, scientific strength and impact of its patents on the entire industry are also rated. While ranked number two overall, Microsoft ranked highest for Science Strength™ , and edged out IBM in the Industry Impact™ of its patent portfolio.

"Our objective analysis of quantitative and qualitative factors shows IBM continuing to dominate the IT industry," said Eric Gillespie, chief operating officer of The Patent Board. "IBM's robust patent portfolio in semiconductors, software and service-oriented architecture, along with some IP-heavy acquisitions, helped them outperform top competitors in 2006."

"Second place Microsoft is clearly on the rise with the highest Science Strength score, which rates the degree to which its patent portfolio is linked to core science," said Gillespie. "In addition, Microsoft posted double digit growth in nearly every category that we analyze, including Industry Impact, Technology Strength, Science Strength, and Research Intensity. From a quantitative perspective, Microsoft had 94 percent growth in the number of IT patents filed, versus only 30 percent growth for IBM and 16 percent growth from third-ranked Hewlett-Packard."

Top 10 Innovators in Information Technology: from the 2007 Patent Scorecard.
Rank/Company
1. IBM
2. Microsoft Corp
3. Hewlett-Packard
4. Hitachi Ltd
5. Sun Microsystems
6. Canon Inc   
7. Ricoh Co Ltd
8. Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
9. Toshiba Corp
10.Matsushita Electric Industrial

For detailed scores and rankings of each company's Technology Strength, Industry Impact, Science Strength and Patent Count, go to www.patentboard.com.

About the Patent Scorecard
Standings in the 2007 Information Technology Patent Scorecard are based on a comparison of data for the 2006 calendar year. The Information Technology Patent Scorecard is primarily ranked by Technology StrengthTM, which provides an aggregate assessment of patents and innovation using a blend of quality and quantity metrics. Only industry-specific patents within a company's portfolio are considered in the calculations. Each company's portfolio is measured on its technical strength, quantity, science and research strength, and the speed at which patents become assets.

Patent Scorecards are published for 17 different industry sectors, and are available at www.PatentBoard.com. In addition, highlights from each industry-specific Patent Scorecard appear weekly in the Money & Investing section of the Wall Street Journal, providing readers with deeper insight into patent portfolios as measurable financial assets and drivers of market value.

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