Microsoft Wants More Patents, Says Gates

In an effort to drive its IP licensing program, it appears that Microsoft will dramatically increase its patent filings in the coming year. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates announced recently that the company expects to file 3,000 patent applications, up from just over 2,000 last year and 1,000 per year in recent years. Gates noted that his company is not just interested in the numbers, "We think"”patent for patent"”what we are doing is, if anything, more important than what others are doing." Patent licensing has been an important business strategy for many technology companies, most notably IBM, which has for years dominated the tech field in US patent filings and patents granted. Last year, IBM was issued 3,415 patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office. For news coverage of the Microsoft announcement, see: http://news.com.com/2102-1014_3-5288722.html. For the press release of the US Patent Office on the top 10 organizations receiving the most US patents in 2003, see: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/04-01.htm. Summary by: Jennifer Jannuska