China’s total global patent filings jumped 16% to 29,846 in 2015 from the previous year, Tech In Asia reported, citing data from the World Intellectual Property Organization on filings valid in 148 countries under the global Patent Cooperation Treaty. China smartphone manufacturer Huawei filed for 3,898 patents, making it the world’s most active filer for the second year running and exceeding runner-up Qualcomm by more than 60%. Huawei competitor ZTE filed 2,155 patents to come in at third place globally. While the uptick in patent filings does not necessarily translate to an increase in feasible products or innovation, it does suggest China is taking international patents more seriously.
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