The Innovation Landscape

Between 1976 and 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted 9.36M patents. This half-century of innovation encompasses everything from the personal computer revolution to the rise of artificial intelligence.

Patent grants have grown dramatically, from roughly 70,000 per year in the late 1970s to over 350,000 per year in recent times. Utility patentsutility patentA patent granted for a new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter. The most common patent type, representing over 90% of US grants. -- which protect new inventions and processes -- make up over 90% of all grants. Design patents, protecting ornamental designs, have also seen steady growth.

The growth has not been steady. The 2008 financial crisis caused a notable dip, and patent office backlogs have created year-to-year volatility. But the overall trajectory is clear: more people and organizations are seeking patent protection for their inventions than ever before.

Patents have become significantly more complex over time. The average number of claims per patent has increased steadily, reflecting the growing sophistication of inventions and the strategic importance of broad patent coverage. Each claim defines a specific aspect of the invention that is legally protected.

The time it takes for a patent to go from application to grant has fluctuated considerably. In the early 2000s, growing backlogs pushed average pendency times to over 3 years. The USPTO has made efforts to reduce these times, but the increasing complexity of technology and the sheer volume of applications continue to challenge the system.